Read the stories from the latest issue:
Pictured back row, left to right:: Dana Hall (Premier Home Loans), Jeff Douglas (MountainStorm Insurance), Whitney Shank (Chamber events director), Greg Segal (Stone Segal Wealth Management Group), Kerri Morgan (Douglas County Libraries), Steve Peterson (Christian Brothers Automotive), and Joe Roos (Hide in Plain Sight). Front row, left to right: Karin Miller (Chamber finance director), Stacie…
By Michelle Post Reciprocity in business has long been expressed in tangible forms (i.e., hand-written thank you notes, the giving and receiving of business cards at networking events and coupons for customer loyalty, to name a few.). As technology changes, businesses that want a competitive edge must adapt and evolve, and increasing customer engagement in…
Article and photo by Nancy Koontz Blending a family is like blending a fine wine. Both require patience, passion and love, and both have been the focus for Steve and Laura Durie since they met three-and-a-half years ago. It was match.com that brought the singles together for lunch; a lunch that would last seven hours…
Residents lined the interstate on January 5 along with South Metro Rescue firefighters on the Castle Pines overpass to honor and pay their respects to Deputy Parrish. By Lynne Marsala Basche; information provided by the Town of Castle Rock; photos courtesy of Kathy Fallert and Catherine Van Houten On December 31, 2017, the Castle Pines…
By Terri Wiebold A heartfelt thanks goes out to those who have shown your support of The Connection by mailing in your voluntary subscriptions. We are humbled by the response and appreciate your participation. We especially enjoy reading your comments and feedback about how we are doing as your community newspaper. The Castle Pines Arts…
By Daniel Williams Contrary to recent claims being made on social media platforms, the former Safeway location in the city of Castle Pines will NOT become a cannabis grow operation. The Connection received several inquiries about the rumorings, so we reached out to city officials for further explanation of local marijuana laws and to clear…
Information provided by Douglas County As we head into the height of flu season, the health department is reminding residents that it is not too late to get a flu shot. When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu spreads through our community. “Flu activity increased sharply recently in Colorado, with more than…
Article and photos by Daniel Williams For many in the 80108 ZIP code, hiking means getting in a car and hopping on I-70 or I-25 and driving an hour or more to a rugged trailhead for a day of gut-busting, adrenaline-pumping exercise. But most people do not have the time nor the inclination to make…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Anna Mallinson On January 17, Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) opened its doors to family, friends and the community for a showcase to highlight what the students have been doing the first half of the year. The event was a school-wide opportunity for students to display and present their…
Get lost in and urban hike Article and photos by Daniel Williams For many in the 80108 ZIP code, hiking means getting in a car and hopping on I-70 or I-25 and driving an hour or more to a rugged trailhead for a day of gut-busting, adrenaline-pumping exercise. But most people do not have the…
Information provided by the Douglas County Youth Initiative Nominations for the 2018 Douglas County Outstanding Youth Awards are now being accepted. This one-of-a-kind award encompasses all youth: youth who have not finished their K-12 education, youth in traditional classroom settings, youth in group homes, youth in alternative schools, and youth in foster homes. Ten award…
By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Denver Museum of Nature and Science Have a passion for nature, culture and science? Indulge that passion with a visit to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS). Whether for just a couple of hours, or for the whole day, the museum is an excellent place to explore,…
Information provided by the City of Castle Pines The City of Castle Pines cordially invites you to attend the final City Council meeting for outgoing members, and the inauguration of new members, on Monday, January 8, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. at 360 Village Square Lane. Immediately following the 6:00 p.m. meeting, stick around for a…
By Lisa Crockett It is the time of year when a lot of us are thinking about ways to improve our health, save money and decrease the amount of waste we contribute to the world. Planning meals ahead of time is a great way to accomplish all three of these goals. As an added bonus,…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Karin Miller and Whitney Shank Santa may not have brought his reindeer when he visited The Ridge at Castle Pines North on December 9, but he and Mrs. Claus continued the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce annual Holly Jolly Breakfast with Santa tradition with an abundance of holiday…
Every year in May, umbrellas appear like butterflies in front of Potocki Palace on Kopernick Street. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner I set off to Lviv (‘Le-view’), Ukraine in May. Friends thought I had finally gone off the reservation. Know this: Ukrainians have a thirst for freedom likely second to none on the planet.…
By Lynne Marsala Basche Whether called a “drifter,” “beggar,” “transient,” or “panhandler,” walking past anyone asking for money can be awkward. People are sympathetic, but they may also be embarrassed by the public request. Regardless of if people look away and ignore the person or if they give money, it is unsettling especially when it…
By Amanda Merriman Connection writer Amanda Merriman admits she is hopelessly addicted to books. It has been this way nearly all her life. Every month she shares what she has been reading with the hope that others will share in the obsession too. For this month’s book selection, I dove into a classic psychological thriller.…
Elly Harper of Timber Canyon has fully embraced being an adventurous Coloradan! Harper joined the outdoor adventure group Sisters on the Fly and claims the group has “given her a new lease on life.” Harper is pictured horseback riding in Bryce Canyon, fishing on the Colorado river, and with her daughter Anne, who joined the…
Article and photos by Liz Rector; photos courtesy of Jimmy’s Photography The sun was shining and the sound of carolers filled the air in The Village at Castle Pines during the “Santa in the Pines” event on December 2. Smiling residents perused the shops and headed toward the sound of Santa’s jolly greetings. Friends and…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Anna Spitzer Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) staff and Castle Pines resident Anna Spitzer believe that children should be introduced to helping others early. Last year, when Spitzer saw an opportunity at TTE to encourage giving throughout the school, she was eager to get started. Since then, TTE has…
Team Stutler has been participating in the annual JBR Denver for more than ten years. Michelle Stutler of Cerney Circle, who battles rheumatoid arthritis, brings friends and family from Castle Pines and the surrounding area together each year but had a record turnout this year with 20 people and seven dogs! Article and photos by…
For the purposes of this publication, the entire 80108 ZIP code (pictured in yellow to the right) is considered “Castle Pines” and is part of our saturation mailing for all single family homes and businesses. Because the U.S. Postal Service periodically reconfigures the courier routes for area ZIP codes, our distribution sometimes changes unexpectedly. If…
Information provided by IREA Intermountain Rural Electric Association’s (IREA) board of directors has approved a rate refund totaling $8.4 million that appeared as credits on most customers’ electricity bills in December. The board’s action passes through to customers a wholesale rate refund received by the cooperative this year. The average residential customer will see a…
Article and photo by Lisa Nicklanovich Womenade, a group of women “making lemonade out of life’s lemons,” celebrated the season December 5 and raised more than $2,000 for families in need. Leslie Beauchamp of Bell Mountain Ranch hosted the well-attended event, and everyone enjoyed the holiday decorations and themed trees throughout Beauchamp’s home. Womenade holds…
The Connection staff enjoyed a festive holiday party at Maggiano’s Little Italy – top row, left to right: Nancy Koontz, writer; Lynne Marsala Basche, managing editor; Joe Gschwendtner, writer; Heidi Lewellyn, proofreader; Terri Wiebold, publisher; Liz Rector, writer; Sandy Gamble, account manager; Kathy Fallert, writer and proofreader, John Basche, writer, Laura Gooding, account manager and…
Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner The Lawrence C. Phipps Jr. who purchased the Kistler and Welte properties and named it Highlands Ranch was connected and wealthy, the son of a Carnegie steel magnate and U.S. Senator from Colorado. His position in life allowed for many uncommon opportunities, and he seized them often and successfully.…
Photo by Terri Wiebold Castle Rock Bank has officially merged with Guaranty Bank, and the new signage at the Castle Pines branch makes it official! Pictured left to right: Marilyn, Caroline, Jayne, Sara and Terry – one bank, one community!
By Amanda Merriman It is embarrassing to admit that despite living in Colorado for most of the past 25 years, I still cannot name a majority of the mountains that make up our western skyline. I can point out Pikes Peak, so all is not lost, I suppose. I recently made it my goal to…
The Breakfast Club, which is for single men and woman who are 50 and older, meets monthly at The Ridge at Castle Pines. By John Basche; photo courtesy of Barbara Auty For those of us who grew up in a certain era, “The Breakfast Club” conjures up a cinematic coming-of-age story where seemingly unconnected characters…
The Green Gals, from top left to bottom right Piper Landon, Hailey Van Auken, Sadie Rowe, Charleigh Gibson, Devon Wilkins and Kaitlin Hicks. The team’s Lexus Eco Challenge project focused around the use of reusable versus nonreusable bags. By Kira Zizzo, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Rachel Cook In a nationwide contest sponsored by…
By Lynne Marsala Basche Since 2006, Colorado Life Trak, which is a coordinated program sponsored by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO), Douglas County Adult Services and TRIAD, has been used to help locate children and adults who have Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, autism and other related conditions. Colorado Life Trak is a tracking system…
By Lynn Zahorak; photo courtesy of The Castle Pines Arts and Cultural Foundation The Castle Pines Arts and Cultural Foundation (CPACF) once again hosted “An Evening with John Fielder” in early December at the Castle Pines Community Center. Residents enjoyed “A Colorado Winter” slideshow, which showcased Fielder’s magnificent winter photography. Thirty percent of book sales…
BRE kindergartners showed off their vocal chords when 7News stopped by the school on December 5 to video the kids for later holiday broadcasts. By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Corin Meibos 7News popped into Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) on Tuesday, December 5 to video Sherri Rumminger’s kindergarten class as they sang with the school’s…
Article and cutline by Lisa Nicklanovich Rina Castanon’s (pictured in center in red) annual ornament exchange luncheon is looked forward to by many in the Forest Park neighborhood and surrounding area. One guest purchased her ornament the day after the event last year in anticipation! On December 8, long-time and new neighborhood friends came together…
Heroes in all shapes, sizes and species –By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Friends of Douglas County K-9 In 2011, David Swieckowski, Angela Sanders, Terry Barnhart and Kim Vanderholm learned that two of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) working dogs needed to be retired but that the DCSO did not have the funds…
Members of the Green Raptors pose with the Air Force Academy mascot. From Left to right: Sofia Bonnstetter, Luke Armstrong, Maddex McKinzie, Jack Sutherland, Charlie Abner, Alex Huser, Connor Wolff, Davis Moon, Brandon Pillsbury and Luke O’Brien. By Daniel Williams; photo courtesy of Andrea Moon When Air Force played Division II Western State Colorado in…
Information provided by DCS Montessori An experiment by DCSM students ended with success aboard a sub-orbital rocket. DCS Montessori partnered with DreamUp, a leading provider of space-based educational opportunities, to develop a custom curriculum. They used the flight opportunity as a teaching moment and engaged as many students as possible with elements of the payload…
By Michelle Post Do you know the saying, “failing to plan, is planning to fail?” Not writing goals for one’s business each year is planning to fail. Goals produce confidence, focus and increase productivity. Goals can also motivate you and empower you to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles you face. Step-1: Write SMART…
RCHS students Zoë Zizzo, Hannah Stephenson, and Isabella Broome distributed paper pinwheels to the school to raise awareness of child abuse during Kindness Week Article and photo by Sarah Bermingham, RCHS intern writer To celebrate the holiday season and give back to the community, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) Random Acts of Positivity club (RAP)…
Brooke Boyles credits her dog Phoebe with helping her manage the day-to-day challenges of Lyme disease. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of the Boyles family When Brooke Boyles was six years old and her family was living in Texas, she noticed a spider bite with a bull’s eye around it on her right knee.…
Information provided by Douglas County A 14 percent increase in Douglas County’s registered voters has triggered the need to adjust voter precinct boundaries. The increase required, by state law, that precinct boundaries be redrawn prior to the 2018 Caucus, Primary and General Election. The precinct changes will be effective February 1, with precinct numbers updated…
On December 16, more than 60 people, including Jim Nikkel, district manager for the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District, Mayor elect Tera Radloff, Timber Trail Elementary students and the community, participated in a ribbon-cutting celebration for several new pieces of playground equipment at Coyote Ridge Park, which were recommended by the students. By Lynne Marsala…
The new RCHS wrestling coach, Reid Heller, who was a wrestler in high school and in college, and also has been a coach for more than 10 years. Article and photo by Jack Hibbett, RCHS intern writer Earlier in the year, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) officially invited its wrestlers to an open mat where…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori School DCS Montessori School (DCSM) continued its annual tradition of hosting a Holiday Gift Shop. Ryoko Futasani’s fourth through sixth grade classrooms ran the Holiday Gift Shop, which featured handmade gifts by the students. Items were available for purchase by other students, DCSM staff and parents.…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett A new year has arrived, and that means it is time to get back on track. More than a month of butter, cream, flour and sugar are again on the books. As always, it was a lot of fun. As always, I’m ready for the clean slate that January…
Seventh-grader Sarah Tepsic, who played Anne, received her famed diary from her father Mr. Frank, played by eighth-grader Jared Engerman. By Liz Rector; photos courtesy of American Academy There were moments during the play, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” where it was easy to forget you were sitting in a school in Colorado rather than…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Julie Dean Lamb On Tuesday, November 28, 2017, the Douglas County School District (DCSD) officially welcomed its newly-elected school board members as they were sworn into office at the Board of Education meeting. Pictured left to right are Anthony Graziano, Kevin Leung, Christina Ciancio-Schor, Krista Holtzmann, David Ray,…
Aven A. and Kate H. sold vanilla steamers with the support of big brother Matt H. to earn money for their adopted family’s gifts. Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) second graders took a field trip in December. It was not your typical field trip; the students went to Target to shop for the families their classes…
By Daniel Williams; photo by Terri Wiebold By now you have probably heard that In-N-Out Burger, the California burger joint with the cult following, is expanding to Colorado. But if your mouth begins to water upon hearing that news, you might want to temper your enthusiasm. According to Denny Warnick, vice president of operations for…
By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of DMNS Have a passion for nature, culture and science? Indulge that passion with a visit to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS). Whether for just a couple of hours, or for the whole day, the museum is an excellent place to explore, especially when the weather…
Castle Pines Boy Scout Troop 316 recently honored three new Eagle Scouts at a Court of Honor ceremony held at Kirk Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. The honorees were Dylan Armstrong of Castle Pines, Joshua Bullock of Castle Pines Village, and William Gray of Highlands Ranch, and they join an elite club. By Daniel…
Photos courtesy of Sierra The Connection staff was thrilled to join Sierra in Lone Tree for its ribbon cutting ceremony and soft opening on December 14. The upscale wood fired kitchen served up amazing cuisine in addition to some stunning views. The interior decor was as beautiful as the exterior architecture, and the much-anticipated opening…
By Patte Smith The holiday festivities are officially over, and now the clean up begins. Whether putting your tree curbside or taking it to recycle, here are some tips to follow: Remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, garland, plastic wrap, tree stands, wire, rope, nails, etc. before disposing of trees. Live trees with artificial snow sprayed…
By Lynn Zahorik; photos courtesy of Katie Abner and Lindsay Matthews Who would have thought entering a pet photo contest could lead to adding a new member to the family? Last December, the Abner family’s 10-year-old son, Andrew, entered his guinea pig Cosmo into The Connection’s Cutest Pet in the Pines photo contest. To their…
CPVGC members Renee Newfield, Beth Hernandez, Liz Lively and Linda Preston. A view of Cherokee Ranch & Castle’s festive dining room from loft during the annual CPVGC’s annual holiday party. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Elizabeth Lively On Friday, December 1, the Castle Pines Village Garden Club (CPVGC) held its annual holiday party…
Information provided by E-470 In November, the E-470 board of directors announced a toll adjustment that would freeze rates for ExpressToll drivers on the 47-mile roadway through 2020, pending board approval. This means ExpressToll users driving E-470 will be able to lock in the rates they are paying today in 2017 through 2020. Additionally, the…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Tera Radloff On November 7 for the third time in Castle Pines history, a new mayor was elected. With 62 percent of the votes, Tera Radloff won the City election and replaced current two-term mayor Jeffrey Huff. Radloff, who moved to Castle Pines in 2003, has been a…
By Liz Rector With the holidays approaching, many are on the hunt for unconventional seasonal gifts. One gift that has become increasingly popular is the present of self-discovery. In the last handful of years, personal DNA testing has entered the mainstream, giving people unparalleled access to their genetic makeup. Nowadays, there are a variety of…
By Lynne Marsala Basche Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) third-grade students participated in a Project Based Learning (PBL) unit called “Putting the Pieces Together.” PBL teaches students to acquire knowledge and skills by investigating and creating solutions to real-world challenges. As part of the lesson, students became playground engineers tasked with modifying a playspace to meet…
By Lynne Marsala Basche At the beginning of 2016, The Castle Pines Connection began its Angels Among Us segment with a belief that nonprofit organizations strengthen our community along with faith in our readership and humanity in general that we all have talents to give. Each month, the paper featured a different Douglas County nonprofit…
Students work virtually with a scientist from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of eDCSD Because students learn in different ways and can need different environments to thrive academically, the Douglas County School District (DCSD) offers options to help families find the educational program best fitting their child. One…
A number of people from the 80108 ZIP code and surrounding area are turning to flight clubs in effort to earn their private pilots license. Some are learning to fly as a career choice while others are seeking an adventurous new hobby. Pictured above is 2017 Rock Canyon High School graduate Grace Beall, who began…
The Ms. Colorado Senior America Pageant is coming to the Lone Tree Art Center on May 26, 2018. Information provided by Shari Ortiz, MCSA vice president The Ms. Colorado Senior America (MCSA) Pageant is coming to Douglas County, and applications for contestants are now being accepted. The pageant will be held on Saturday, May 26…
By Lynne Marsala Basche We received a letter (above) to the editor regarding the November 2017 Lore article “Surrey Ridge: The rest of the story” and are publishing it to share with our readers. The Castle Pines Connection’s “Wildcat Lore” series began in September 2016, and the segment has become increasingly popular with readers. Each…
By Patte Smith Clever and fun event ideas never seem to cease at Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines. For 2018, a few of the very enthusiastic staff members joined together and designed a monthly, year-long program that will be launched in January – The Great Outdoors. Thought about keeping chickens? In February, learn how…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Anna Mallinson On November 15, the annual fifth-grade Thanksgiving lunch took place at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE). Approximately 200 parents and grandparents participated in the traditional feast with the students. Courtesy of the number of diners, the festivities expanded into the library and the central area of the…
Amie Chitwood of Castle Pines at the Adventure Unlimited Ranches in Buena Vista, CO. The organization operates summer youth camps, adult and family programs and a secular program called 100 Elk Outdoor Center. Chitwood shares stories about experiences participants have had in the programs as part of marketing for the organization’s Foundation. By Lisa Nicklanovich;…
Article and photos by Patte Smith Buffalo Ridge Elementary School fourth and fifth graders bopped, rocked and twisted the night away on Friday, November 10 at the annual BRE Sock Hop. With a flashy light show provided by the DJ and great oldies and new mixes of songs, the kids bopped and grooved while several…
By Lynne Marsala Basche For the past eight years, the Community First Foundation and FirstBank have teamed up to promote online giving and philanthropy in Colorado. Colorado Gives Day, which begins at 12 a.m. on December 5, is targeted to increase donations to local nonprofit organizations. On this one day, people throughout Colorado are encouraged…