The Castle Pines Connection

|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. Natasha Pulley’s novel, “The Bedlam Stacks” was released on August 1. It…

Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Home canning is a throwback to a time when more of us grew our own food and prepared for a season (like winter) when produce might be hard to come by. Like many things from yesteryear, canning is labor intensive and fraught with the possibility of failure. Still, home…

Linda Treibitz Some of the best local and national talent present short stories during “Stories on Stage”. By Nancy Koontz; photos courtesy of Linda Treibitz Linda Treibitz and her husband Alan, residents of Castle Pines Village, say one of their key passions in life is enjoying and supporting the theater and the arts. Their enthusiasm…

Participants from the National Sports Center for the Disabled learned golf skills at Sanctuary golf course as part of the 30th Annual Hal O’Leary Golf Classic in July. Information and photo provided by Maria Miller The National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) hosted its 30th Annual Hal O’Leary Golf Classic at Sanctuary golf course…

Front row: John and Karla; back row, left to right: Dylan and Morgan (20), Skylar, (18) and Zoe (22). By Elizabeth Wood West; photo courtesy of the Tartz family You may know them as your next-door neighbors, or your kids’ friends, or your mortgage broker, or your local post office store owner – the Tartz…

The orange line represents Daniels Park Road, and the other colors show the different family properties. By Joe Gschwendtner In examining the checkerboard map of Wildcat Mountain homesteaders, an urge springs within to generalize. Many like to draw conclusions to explain what was seen and experienced. By 1900, most of our geography here had been…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce As of August 1, the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce has a new place to call home. The organization relocated from its space near the former Safeway store to another convenient location at the Coldwell Banker Castle Pines building on 482 Happy…

Information provided by Parker Arts An informative discussion on the Rueter-Hess Reservoir will be held on Tuesday, October 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the PACE Center in Parker. Susan Saint Vincent, president of the Rueter-Hess Recreation Authority, will present the history of the Recreation Authority, the regional partnership and how the project has developed until…

Bernie, the Colorado Avalanche mascot, got the under 10-year-old participants ready with stretches and antics before the kid’s fun run. Article and photos by Lynne Marsala Basche August 20 was a gorgeous morning to welcome runners and walkers of both the human and canine variety to Washington Park in Denver for the Cancer League of…

Information provided by Douglas County More than 67,000 students have returned to school in Douglas County, and whether they walk, bike, skate, or drive to school, it takes everyone, including those driving in the vicinity of schools, to ensure they get there safely. The Douglas County School District encourages students to walk, bike or bus…

Pictured above left: 2017 CCCP scholarship recipients included (from left to right): Matt Hoffman, Candace Rawson, Reese Hummel, Kristen Thomlinson, Erika Freisner, Ryan Jackson, Erin Hinderliter, Jared Brack, Randi Couch, Jordan Stevenson, Ben McGraw, Paul Gibson, Averie Rice, Jason DesVeaux, Lucas Goodiel, Isai Leyva-Arcos, Sara Rawson, Alli Lane, Roma Roth, Ryan Simpson. Recipients not in…

By Kathy Fallert If you’re looking for some fall fitness, check out the upcoming September runs in the Denver metro area. For more information visit www.runningintheusa.com. September 2 Wildcat Mountain 10K/10M Trail Race Highlands Ranch September 3 Fall Six Pack Series – Highlands Ranch 5K Highlands Ranch September 3 Platte 5 & 10 Series 10K,…

Casidee Gonzales with some of the students at a small village in the mountains of El Savador. “I asked to take a picture with one of them and the other four ran up to join us, they were so excited,” she laughed. By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of Casidee Gonzales Casidee Gonzales had an experience…

These fairy tale characters have almost succeeded in their quest for a happy ending: Little Red Riding Hood and granny played by Rebekah Jacob and Samantha Leeman, Rapunzel (sans her long hair) and her prince played by Victoria Xikes and Tate Murphy, and the “mysterious” baker’s father played by Jared Engerman. By Lynne Marsala Basche;…

A young man smiles as he picks a book in braille at the Colorado Talking Book Library. By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of the Colorado Talking Book Library For many of us, reading is second nature. We flip through our mail when we get home, shuttle the kids to the library after school and at…

An aerial view of the whole complex looking northeast with the north part of the Inn cut at the left edge of picture. Note the two-bay garage and outbuilding on the south side, both still standing today as is the white clapboard family home. By Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of the Hill family collection, Douglas…

Evan (left) and dad Jim (right) after the Play 60 Character Camp pictured in front of the Broncos Super Bowl 50 monument commemorating their win against the Carolina Panthers. Inset: Denver Broncos mascot, Miles, was on hand to sign autographs at the Play 60 camp last month. By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos The Denver Broncos…

The Rock Canyon High School cheer team, coached by Amanda Mundaca, volunteered at the Food Bank of the Rockies to organize and sort food for families in need, and to bond as a team. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of RCHS cheer team The cheer team of Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) came together August…

Neighbors Josh Gonzales (left) and George Botsonis (right) met in the Surrey Ridge park to get started on the neighborhood cleanup. To participate in Surrey Ridge’s next event, email Josh at joshuamiguel@yahoo.com. Treats are always offered for those who volunteer. By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Josh Gonzales A few times every year, several residents…

Dan Wise as a boy, pictured top left, and his family in 1949.  Top right, Dan Wise, age 75 By Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of Dan Wise Neighbor Dan Wise of Happy Canyon made a career in clinical social work and is on the cusp of a Ph.D. I asked how he came to dedicate…

The RCHS varsity level volleyball team at the University of Northern Colorado Greeley team camp, which took place July 20 through 22. Pictured top row left to right: Sophia Sobota (CP), Abbey Lehigh, Abi Leitner (CP), Madison Wurst, Macy Rushall and Rachel Schutte. Middle row left to right: Laryssa Myers (CP), Keeley Davis (CP), Alex…

The Clark family: Twin boys Asher and Braxton with parents Adam and Sarah are residents of Buffalo Ridge Estates. By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos Adam and Sarah Clark, residents of Buffalo Ridge Estates make a great team. Adam is a developer who builds houses, including their own home in Castle Pines. Sarah recently joined forces…

  Article and photo by Lisa Crockett It’s harvest time, and after a trip to the farmers market, my kitchen is a veritable vegetable wonderland. Zucchini and eggplant are sliced and roasted, corn is slapped on the grill and given a slather of butter and a sprinkle of salt. Carrots and cucumbers just get sliced…

Information provided by Douglas County Consistent with the Board of Douglas County Commissioners’ commitment to open, transparent and accountable government, the Board retained consultants to conduct an independent survey of Douglas County voters. The survey assessed voter satisfaction with delivery of County services and requested input on the Board’s spending priorities and quality of life…

Article and photo 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. “You don’t always get to know what happened, or…

By Michelle Post On a recent visit to Walmart, I was surprised to see the school supply display. I could not believe it was already that time of the summer. I remember going school supply shopping with my mom and picking out my new pencils, crayons, paper, folders, glue and more. As I thought about…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Mandy Krause Pictured left to right: Neighbors and friends Matt Carlson, Jason Krause, Mandy Krause, Amy Carlson, Louise Melbye and Scott Melbye enjoyed the evening of July 3 at The Country Club at Castle Pines Fire Cracker Scramble Golf Tournament. The six-person nine-hole scramble included unique rules for…

​ The Rausch family are MCT alumni and performed as merchants and farmers in “Jack and the Beanstalk.” By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of Dave Tweed On Saturday, July 22, children from Castle Pines brought the characters from the classic story of “Jack and the Beanstalk” to life. The Missoula Children’s Theatre production included weeklong…

Dr. Jason Ortman and Dr. Jamie Anderson of Castle Pines Eye Care are giving back globally by partnering with the OneSight organization to help bring a temporary eye care clinic to Mexico and a sustainable eye care clinic to Zambia, Africa. Both doctors plan to offer their services for future international trips. By Kathy Fallert;…

By Michelle Post; photo courtesy of Barb Findlay In true patriotic fashion and celebrating our nation’s independence for the Fourth of July weekend, Castle Pines Parkway was lined with five crisp, beautiful American flags. Special thanks to Gary Leiker with RE/MAX Professionals for presenting the idea to the city council and for donating the flags…

Information provided by Tri-County Health Department On Saturday, August 12, 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. Many common products found in your home such as oil-based paint, mercury, gasoline, degreasers, cleaning…

By Lisa Crockett If you are a human being alive on the planet today, there is a good chance you have some sort of obsolete computer or electronic equipment somewhere in your house. A law passed four years ago in an effort to encourage recycling of so called “e-waste” (think computers, monitors, televisions and cellphones).…

Resident artist Jerod Anderson free-handed a chalk drawing of the Statue of Liberty on the sidewalk outside King Soopers a few years ago and has created chalk drawings at several Castle Pines community events in recent years. Anderson will be doing an exhibition piece at the Chalk It Up 4 Charity event at Elk Ridge…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines; photo by Paul Masovero At a time when it feels like development may be taking over the community, it is breathtaking drives like this one just west of the Wildcat Mountain Trail parking lot on Monarch Boulevard (looking west) that remind us of the beautiful dedicated open…

By Terri Wiebold Have you had any tattoos or body piercings within the past 12 months? Have you spent three months or more in the United Kingdom from 1980 to present? Have you traveled outside the United States within the past 12 months? Are you currently under a doctor’s care for surgery or an illness?…

By Terri Wiebold; photos courtesy of The Country Club at Castle Pines The Country Club at Castle Pines (CCCP) has a new twist on an old favorite, happy hour! Members bring their dogs to accompany them on the social lawn for “yappy hour” where they frolic in puppy pools and enjoy treats alongside their owners.…

Information provided by Guaranty Bank The holding company for Guaranty Bank and Trust Company announced in June the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire the holding company for Castle Rock Bank. Following the closing of the transaction, Castle Rock Bank will be merged into Guaranty Bank and Trust and all Castle Rock Bank branches…

Jane Jenkins, TTE B.A.S.E. program team leader, contributed to the program’s success and high-performance standards, which resulted in a COA honor. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Janie Ino Recently, the Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) Before and After School Enterprise (B.A.S.E.) program received honors for its hard work and dedication to the students, parents,…

By Michelle Post I have been a fan and user of Google Alerts since its inception in 2003 and have found it to be very useful in my business. This free tool is a great way to track online activity about you, your brand, your product or your industry. Here is how it works –…

Six TTE families worked together to pack food bags for almost 70 families in need. Individualized lists were used to gather food items for Fresh Harvest. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Anna Spitzer Castle Pines resident Anna Spitzer and her family actively volunteer in the community. Last year, Spitzer approached Timber Trail Elementary…

Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Grilling really is the perfect way to prepare food. It’s fast, it produces delicious results and it cleans up with a minimum of fuss. The moment the mercury on the thermometer rises above 75 degrees, the grill is my go-to for delicious and fast meal prep. All summer we…

Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik Underneath the blanket of blue skies and mild temperatures, area runners took stride on the golf paths of The Ridge at Castle Pines North golf course for the inaugural “Run The Ridge 5K” event on Sunday June 25. Nearly 100 runners of all ages enjoyed the rare opportunity to…

Diagram (from Nasa.gov) showing the Earth-sun-moon geometry of a total solar eclipse. By Lynne Marsala Basche; courtesy photos On Monday, August 21, enthusiastic skywatchers in North America are in for a treat; a total solar eclipse. During a solar eclipse, the moon slowly passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking all or part of…

WFS President, Ranee Wilson (right) pictured with Jon Hulme (left), operating partner for Kneaders in Lone Tree. By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos Wholesome Food Services (WFS) began six years ago as a grassroots efforts of parents and nutrition experts in Colorado to offer a convenient and unique lunch program for schools. Their mission is to…

By Amanda Merriman During the past few years, the idea of mindfulness has been omnipresent in our culture. For instance, there is a pilot program on mindfulness for students and teachers at Bear Creek Elementary here in Douglas County. Workplace wellness sessions can be found in many businesses, and classes geared toward aging gracefully through…

Squire in front of the Taj Mahal in India as part of Semester at Sea. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Sydney Squire Sydney Squire of Forest Park set sail in January for a journey that would last more than 100 days and take her to 13 countries. Squire is a nutrition major at the…

A bento box lunch is both tasty, beautiful and anything but boring. By Lisa Crockett It hardly seems possible, but this month school is back in session. Laid-back meal schedules and snacking with no particular agenda is out, and structured mealtimes are back in. It’s not all bad news. A little planning and creativity can…

By Patte Smith The Castle Pines community has many homeowner associations (HOAs) and each one handles trash removal and recycling independently for its members. There are three primary waste companies serving the City of Castle Pines and the communities of Castle Pines Village, Happy Canyon, Surrey Ridge, and other unincorporated areas in the 80108 ZIP…

Information provided by Douglas County School District This is the ninth year of the Douglas County Educational Foundation (DCEF) Lend A Hand Back 2 School Supply Drive. Last year’s effort provided more than 1,500 students with supplies ranging from crayons to composition books. Supplies were collected by 60+ organizations and individuals who contributed to the…

The Shuster family may be the only known case in which a married couple has FSHD on both sides of their family. The couple is involved with the FSH Society and are planning the second annual Walk and Roll to Cure FSHD on September 9 at the Philip S. Miller Park. By Lynne Marsala Basche;…

Article and photos by Patte Smith Surrey Ridge sometimes feels like small-town USA, which is a good thing. Neighbors are friendly and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere at many of the events held at Surrey Ridge Park. On Sunday, July 9, car guys and gals showed off their classic and snazzy vehicles at the third Annual…

National Senior Citizens Day recognizes positive contributions senior citizens make in communities across the U.S. The day was also created to bring awareness of social, health and economic issues that affect senior citizens. Former President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Senior Citizens Day in 1988. It is always celebrated on August 21, which is…

Typically, people think about donating items to food pantries during the holiday season, but summer months find families in need of nutritious food as well. As part of the 9Cares Colorado Shares program, Bringing Hope to the Table boxes can be purchased at King Soopers stores (pictured right), including the location on Lagae Road in…

Maria Pangalos and other exchange students from around the world with the local AFS volunteers breaking fast in the city of Kuala Lumpur in Dataran Merdeka (freedom/national square). During the month of Ramadan, nothing should enter the body from dawn until dusk, so coming together to break fast is a special celebration. Article and photos…

Castle Pines teenager Taylor Rae recorded seven new songs this spring in Nashville. She also made a music video for her single “13 Stripes and 50 Stars,” — to check it out, visit: www.officialtaylorrae.com. By Lisa Crockett; photos courtesy of Taylor Rae Local musician Taylor Rae got her start in performing by singing the national…

Did someone say party? Residents of all ages came out for the 2016 Party in the Park. You are invited once again to partake of the food, fun and fireworks at this annual community event. By Terri Wiebold; courtesy photos Brought to you by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce, The Castle Pines Connection and…

Recommendations in the City of Castle Pines Master Transportation Plan have led to a proposed speed and lane reduction in one area of the City, as well as the addition of protected bicycle lanes. Information provided by the City of Castle Pines The Castle Pines City Council is moving to implement recommendations made in the…

By Patte Smith New this season, two sessions of basketball are being offered by Castle Pines Athletics. The fall session runs from October 16 to December 9 with no games on November 20 to 25. Deadline to register for fall basketball is September 25. The winter basketball season is from January 15 to March 10,…

  In addition to the athletes who live and train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, the complex welcomes approximately 130,000 visitors each year and offers guided tours daily. Pictured are Andrew Amayo (left) and Jack Basche (right). Article and photos by Lynne Marsala Basche Olympic enthusiasts may not know the event’s theme song is…

As with each generation there are major events that occur (some horrific, others enjoyable and fun) that can’t help but influence and define a unique attitude and set of values. Although Gen X has been called the lost generation, they are very much alive and kicking. Article and collage by Michelle Post; courtesy photos According…

Information provided by Slowfoodnations.org This July, Slow Food USA welcomes the world to Denver for Slow Food Nations, a festival to taste and explore a world of good, clean and fair food for all. The weekend will combine the energy of a street food festival, the rigor of an academic conference and the inspiration of…

By Terri Wiebold; photo by Lynn Zahorik Two newcomers to the 80108 dining scene are Zoës Kitchen and Rocket Fizz, both featuring back-to-basics products and a bit of nostalgia. Zoës promises ingredients that are delivered fresh daily. Their team hand-washes, cuts and prepares each item from scratch in the kitchen because as founder Zoë Cassimus…

Is digital marketing killing print advertising? The 1979 pop song “Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Buggles posed the hypothesis that radio as a musical medium was no longer viable due to the explosion of video in the recording industry. And yet nearly four decades later, I still listen to the radio when I…

Librarian Kyra Hahn, lover of books and a very special place, at the Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines. Article and photo by Patte Smith Entering the Douglas County library in Castle Pines is a treat. The welcoming staff greet everyone who walks in the door and they are always available to help patrons find…