The Castle Pines Connection

Castle Pines resident and runner Christy Lott at the Friends Run for Castlewood Canyon event last year.  This year’s race will be held on September 13, with proceeds benefiting improvements to the park. By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Friends of Castlewood Canyon Runners from around the metro area will gather on September 13 to…

Jordan (pictured above) and the entire staff, affectionately known as “snoozers,” were busy serving all of the curious, hungry diners at the grand opening of the Snooze restaurant in Lone Tree. Article and photo by Cindy Cranstone Wake up to Snooze!  The A.M. Eatery opened its doors at Lincoln Commons in Lone Tree on June…

Excitement was in the air at All City Field in Denver on May 27 as the RCHS Varsity Baseball Team took its first ever 5A state title. A number of RCHS baseball players are Castle Pines residents and have been crossing paths with each other since Little League.  Pictured back row, left to right:  Coaches…

Parker Water & Sanitation workers began stocking Rueter-Hess Reservoir with fathead minnows and bluegill last month as part of a phased fish stocking program. By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Parker Water and Sanitation District Days of fun in the sun at the Rueter-Hess Reservoir, a quick drive on Hess Road for most Castle Pines…

By Elizabeth Wood West; photo courtesy of Bob Wiebold Construction at Promenade at Castle Rock (Promenade) is moving forward following the unexpected withdrawal of a referendum petition submitted to the Town of Castle Rock (Town) by residents Keith Lattimore-Walsh and Linda Van Nostran, with the support of Save the Castle Rock Prairie Dogs and Wildlands…

Information provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is gearing up for the 2015 Annual National Night Out celebration on Tuesday, August 4.  The event is a block party of sorts, aimed at making neighborhoods county-wide safer. The purpose of this event is to reduce property crime through neighbors getting…

By Lisa Crockett; photos by Joe Gschwendtner Later this month, the Safeway store on Castle Pines Parkway will close its doors for good. On June 13, nine metro-area stores, including the Castle Pines location, will no longer be in business due to a lack of profitability.  The closure will leave the 59,000 square foot retail…

By Amy Shanahan One in 68 children is affected by autism, and Canyon Fitness was proud to hold its second annual Light It Up Blue event to bring awareness to this statistic.   The event was held at the end of April which is designated Autism Awareness Month, and the club held a fun party…

By Patte Smith Adolescence is a critical time of development for pre-teens and teens.  As these young adults struggle with acceptance, confidence, identity, school, friends and physical changes, their decision-making can be overly influenced by emotions. Their ability to cope is not fully developed and teens may become vulnerable to risky behaviors, such as drugs…

Neil Diamond tribute band Forever in Blue Jeans has a following of loyal listeners and will be performing to a captive Castle Pines audience on June 6.  Check out a pre-event preview at www.foreverinbluejeanslive.com. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Forever in Blue Jeans The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce is excited to host…

Submitted by the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo The Douglas County Fair & Rodeo is actively seeking volunteers age 16 and older to help out with a variety of activities and tasks at the August 6 – 9 Douglas County Fair & Rodeo. What’s in it for you?  By volunteering in the fun, family-friendly community…

Local dignitaries, volunteers, and residents celebrated the commencement of construction of the new library in the City of Castle Pines last month. The library is due for completion late this fall or early this winter. Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Dignitaries and volunteers from the City of Castle Pines and the surrounding areas gathered…

By Patte Smith Farmers markets continue to grow in popularity as consumers’ interest in farm fresh produce grown locally has significantly increased.  Both consumers and farmers have found that they enjoy the opportunity to get to know each other throughout the growing season – it is a win-win for both the shopper and the grower.…

By Patte Smith Several outdoor music concerts are in Castle Pines own backyard.  Pack up a picnic basket and grab the lawn chairs to listen to tunes at the park.   The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce is hosting “Forever in Blue Jeans,”  a Neil Diamond tribute band, at its inaugural Food Truck Frenzy on…

Savannah and Cassidy exhibiting school spirit and collecting donations curbside at the BRE Clean Your Closets event. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Caitlin Streich The Buffalo Ridge Education Alliance (BREA) along with BRE’s Green Team and the community participated in the first Clean Your Closets for BRE event.  The effort benefited BRE, as…

Hall’s hand-milled, re-purposed wood brewhouse east of Parker on a seven-acre homestead where Aubrey Hall also lives. By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of Hall Brewing Co. Craft beers, meaning those that emphasize quality, flavor, and small batch brewing techniques, are a marvelous industry success story.  Douglas County is fertile ground and today home to eight…

Kelly Storick, who will be a junior at Rock Canyon High School this fall, received her license this past November.   By Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of Julie Storick Gone are the days of in-school driver’s education classes, taking a carload of friends to the drive-in, and a mere three-month driving permit.  The rules have…

By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of the Yehle Family Lauren Yehle was recently honored by being one of only 40 high school seniors in the state of Colorado to receive the prestigious Boettcher Scholarship.  Yehle graduated from Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) in May and is a busy, happy, grounded and amazing person who is…

Theresa Bakken keeps bees in McArthur Ranch and produces bottled honey and homemade caramels. Hand made Honey Salted Caramels from the Bee Ranch in McArthur Ranch, are scrumptious local treats reminiscent of another era. Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Spring is in full bloom in Colorado, and honey production is in full swing at…

By Elean Gersack Businesses beware.  Recently, The Castle Pines Connection nearly fell prey to a misrepresentation scam involving the “let your fingers do the walking” logo and wants to make sure everyone is aware of this particular tactic.   The scam has been around for years and ebbs and flows with many variations.  The key…

Residents will most miss the friendly and caring people who were the essence of the Safeway in Castle Pines.  Cashiers Tara (above) and Sandy (below) were an important part of the customer service experience. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner The Safeway Corporation made some tough decisions on store closures last month.  Kris Staaf, Safeway…

Music is an important part of Front Range Christian Church’s ministry. Lead pastor, Ernest Smith, teaches the application of God’s word to everyday life during a Sunday service.  When Ernest is not leading FRCC, he is cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs, playing sports, or pulling for the Broncos who he has supported since he was…

Friends and student council surround the registration table during the swab drive for Lukas Larsson at RCHS. Event organizer Robert Falk got a little direction from his mom Beth while he took his mouth swab.   Lukas (third from left) with friends, Robert Falk, Kimball Eggett, and Will Steffe.  It is time to get on…

Castle Pines neighbors connected at the Master Association’s annual garage sale last month.  To view a fun slideshow of the event, visit www.castlepinesconnection.com and click on “Photo Album.” By Elizabeth Wood West; photo by Lynn Zahorik If you enjoy looking for bargains in a beautiful neighborhood full of nice people, consider visiting Sapphire Pointe’s eighth…

By Amy Shanahan; photos by Lynn Zahorik More than 900 runners from the Castle Pines community and beyond came together on May 2 to participate in the Rise & Run 5K event in support of Denver Police Officer John Adsit who was severely injured in December of last year in the line of duty.  Adsit…

By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Trudi Broschat Rock Canyon High School’s (RCHS) varsity club hockey team won the state championship at Edge Ice Arena in Littleton on May 10.  The final score was 5-2 against Lewis Palmer.  The team won the state championship in 2013 and in 2014 they were the runner up.  Consisting…

By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of  the Gibson, Hilgendorf, Jacobs, McDowell, and Ogden Families ‘Tweens and teens from Castle Pines got spruced up and took on social skills and etiquette for the 21st century during the Jon D. Williams Cotillions’ Spring 2015 Douglas County Cotillion held at The University of Colorado Liniger Building (formerly The…

Members of the Castle Pines Village Garden Club enjoyed showing some sass while being models for the day at the club’s annual banquet and fashion show.  Pictured left to right: Judi Walker, Michele Volkl, Mary Evans, Peggy Schultze, Janice Wright, Kathy Pollock, Liz Clarke, and Rose Essy. Article and photos by Amy Shanahan The annual…

Brad Hansen (center) collected donations during school lunches.  He was aided by his friends Cooper McNeily (left) and Lance Opp (far right). Submitted by RHMS students Amber St. Laurent and Shayna Smith; photos courtesy of Brad Hansen and Jack Thompson “It was really awesome… It was really fun,” said the star and recipient of the…

By Lisa Crockett; photos by Lynn Zahorik Residents descended on the community center last month in search of a good book.  The event, which is held annually, was sponsored by the Castle Pines North Master Association and was organized by event coordinator Carla Kenny.  Kenny was ably assisted by 12 volunteers who collectively spent more…

Pictured above right:  Dr. Malin and Genny Sadler hosted a Castle Pines Chamber ribbon cutting ceremony in May at their new concierge medical practice, For the Family Medical Care in Castle Pines. Article and photo by Elizabeth Wood West Dr. Malin Sadler and wife Genny, owners of For the Family Medical Care, welcomed family, friends,…

A year following her graduation from Rock Canyon High School, Morgan Roos of Castle Pines signed her letter of intent to play basketball at Clemson University in South Carolina.  Roos is the first female ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) basketball player to come out of Colorado. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Kimberly Roos Morgan Roos…

New members of boys team charity Mile High League Nicole and Ryan Wight of Castle Pines participated in Comcast Cares Day at Denver Health on April 25.  The team picked up trash around the hospital grounds, cleaned out flower beds and planted new flowers. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Lesley Gibson Castle Pines residents…

Damp weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the DCS Montessori School community as they gathered to celebrate the end of the school year with great music and great friends.  After the sun went down, Big Hero 6 played on the big screen. The DCS Montessori school held its first ever Summer Celebration last month at…

By Elizabeth Wood West Town of Castle Rock’s (Town) Clerk Sally Misare has determined that citizens collected enough valid signatures for the Promenade referendum petition to authorize the Town to move forward with the referendum process. The petition, brought about after much controversy surrounding the removal/relocation of prairie dogs on the property, seeks to reverse…

2015 Chamber award winners (left to right):  John Medved, Donna Scott, Melanie Calhoun, and Walt Kowalski. Press release and photo provided by Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce The Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce honored John Medved, Donna Scott, Walt Kowalski, Sally Misare, and Melanie Calhoun for their exceptional community efforts April 24 at the Castle…

Pictured above right:  Asarch Center for Dermatology, Laser & Mohs Surgery founder Dr. Richard Asarch (holding scissors), joined with family and friends to celebrate the opening of their new Castle Rock office.   Article and photo by Elizabeth Wood West Asarch Center for Dermatology, Laser & Mohs Surgery (Asarch Center) founding physician Dr. Richard Asarch,…

Castle Pines sisters Chloe and Mia Maciolek brought life to Walt Disney’s classic tale of Sleeping Beauty.  Pictured above,  Prince Phillip defends the sleeping Princess Aurora (Chloe) from the evil Maleficent (Mia). Mia Maciolek (above and below in pink) played Sleeping Beauty in South Suburban Ice Arena’s Fairy Tales on Ice show last month.  Younger…

Elementary school students from Timber Trail and Buffalo Ridge (above) and representatives  from Rock Canyon High School (below) at this year’s Destination Imagination state tournament. By Lisa Crockett; photos courtesy of Christina Kohl Roughly 75 teams from Douglas County schools participated in this year’s Destination Imagination (DI) state tournament, including several from Castle Pines-area schools. …

The Interact club’s final meeting of the year was a celebration of their accomplishments.  Representatives from the Rotary Club of Castle Pines joined the students and their faculty sponsor, along with representatives from two organizations which benefited from the money raised by the club. The Interact club at Rocky Heights Middle School worked on several…

Photo and cutline by Terri Wiebold Saturday, May 15, MAD Greens in Lone Tree opened its doors for business.  According to area manager Jeremy Marshall, “We specialize in custom-made, gourmet salads and our menu is customizable.” Visit MAD Greens at 10002 Commons Street or learn more at www.madgreens.com.

By Elizabeth Wood West  U.S. Congressman Ken Buck is now accepting applications to four of the five U.S. service academies – U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY; U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD; U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY.  (The fifth service academy, U.S. Coast Guard…

Sheriff Tony Spurlock presented RCHS Principal Andy Abner with the Ronald M. King Community Service Award. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) Principal and Castle Pines resident Andy Abner received the Ronald M. King Community Service Award from Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock on May…

Castle Pines Connection staff writer Elizabeth Wood West and her husband Richard enjoyed a lovely dinner at the soft opening of VistaVino in Castle Rock last month.  Check out the back page of the June Food & Dining guide for more information about VistaVino. Article and photo by Elizabeth Wood West Devoted fans of Uniscali…

Jessica Ansay (right) with one of her sweet buddies from The Joshua School in Denver. By Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of the Ansay Family Last summer, the inaugural XDrive Classic Golf Tournament raised more than $33,000 for The Joshua School (TJS) in Denver.  The event returns on Monday, August 3 at The Club at Pradera…

Castle Pines residents Ella Greenhow, Charlie Tucker, Claire Benko, Emerson Yu, Lauren Brockman, and Ava Stotler pose in front of their team display at the Global Expo. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of American Academy The American Academy (AA) Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr.FLL) robotics team participated in the 2015 First World Championship Global…

By RHMS student Riley Busch; photos courtesy of Judi Holst “Yes, there is a world out there and even if you decide you don’t want to meet it, it’s still going to hit you right in the face.  Believe me.  So, best you start thinking about the world now and what it means to you.” …

Pictured front row (left to right):  Rachel Kelly (track, Coe College, IA), Erica Kelly (track, Upper Iowa University), Jack Lamb (track, University of Mary, ND), Tori Ritter, (diving, University of Cincinnati, OH), Joe Bove (tennis, Lake Forest College, IL), Justin Hunter (football, University of Oregon), Brickelle Bro (swimming, Stanford University, CA), Ellie Rich (volleyball, University…

By Amy Shanahan; photos courtesy of Jimmy Dozer The shop owners at the Village at Castle Pines (VACP) kicked off spring in a big way with their inaugural Spring Fling event on April 25th.  Hundreds of neighbors and friends came together to celebrate on a typical Colorado spring day that brought both sunshine and afternoon…

By Elean Gersack Summer is a great time for ‘tweens and teens to earn some extra money while helping families with babysitting needs. South Metro Safety Foundation (SMSF) is the place to get the skills to be a SUPER sitter, since keeping kids safe is top priority. The SMSF Super Sitting course is for youth…

There are few pleasures in life greater than a great steak.  That’s especially true at Eddie Merlot’s, a brand-new eatery in the Denver Tech Center, where steak is king.  Mouthwatering cuts of beef, ranging from a fork-tender filet mignon to a hearty ribeye, take center stage. Of special note are the menu’s Greg Norman Signature…

Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Grigs Road, which connects the City of Castle Pines and Highlands Ranch and serves as an alternate route to Monarch Boulevard, is not scheduled for paving any time soon, despite recent speculation. The road, which leads north and west out of the city from Daniels Gate, is maintained by…

Fifth graders at Timber Trail Elementary presented a “gumboot” style dance at the annual school talent show.  The dance style originated with mine workers in South Africa, who stomped their feet while singing during the workday. Most soloists for Timber Trail’s annual fifth grade dance this year were boys, many of whom were attracted by…

This summer, hit the highway Article and photos by Maria Pangalos, RCHS intern writer   For high school students, summer means freedom, late nights, travel, light clothing, pure bliss and endless adventures.  Here is a starter list of absolutely awesome things to do during the beautiful Colorado summers. Daniels Gate: Many have ventured to Daniels…

By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Douglas County Rejoice mountain bike riders, you can now ride tricky terrain in your own backyard, so to speak. Strap on that bike helmet and tackle the obstacles at the new mountain bike skills park in Bayou Gulch Regional Park. What a blast maneuvering over 12 man-made beginner and…

A core group of regulars enjoy visiting Dodds Wine Vault each Friday evening to taste and become educated on new wines.  On occasion the shop owners also introduce their guests to interesting spirits like the bourbon whiskey from Laws Whiskey House.  There is something for everyone. Braden Dodds (left) with Al Laws, the owner of…

A Taste of Rose’s Bella Cucina Rose’s Bella Cucina, a new Italian eatery in Castle Rock, is the kind of place you go when you’re craving the classic dishes of your youth.  The kind of place that serves things that bring back memories and delight your senses.  The kind of place you go to when…

Castle Pines resident Steve Ihme, together with his family, will once again host the annual golf tournament in honor of his late brother, Rich.  Proceeds from the event will support the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital Colorado.  This year’s tournament is planned for Friday, June 12, at the Highlands Ranch Golf…

Rocky Heights Middle School was proud of the numerous students it sent to the regional competition for National History Day.  The school is sending a record number of competitors to the state competition. Castle Pines Village residents Brad Hansen and Amanda Pavillard worked together on a project about Susan B. Anthony.  Hansen said, “If you…

The Social is thrilled about their new chef and exciting new menu that compliments their impressive wine selection. Pictured left to right: Sous Chef Cameron Sutherland, General Manager Michael Mercandetti, and Head Chef Austin Hornsby.  Article and photo by Amy Shanahan The Social, located in The Village at Castle Pines, has become a local favorite…

Dressed in roller derby attire, Salon 188 owner Lisa Salmon gave Castle Rock ‘n Rollers’ team announcer, “Rock de Mike,” a haircut during a cut-a-thon she held to support her roller derby team.  By Elizabeth Wood West; photo courtesy of Lisa Salmon Salon 188 owner Lisa Salmon held a cut-a-thon at her salon in April…

Information and photos provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is offering its parking lots as “safe havens” for buyers and sellers on Craigslist.  If buyers or sellers are completing an online transaction, the DCSO suggests that exchanges be made at the closest law enforcement station to protect both…

By Elizabeth Wood West The public is invited to attend a Memorial Day band concert hosted by the Town of Castle Rock on Sunday, May 24, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the bandstand at Philip S. Miller Library, located at 100 S. Wilcox Street in Castle Rock.   American Legion Post 1187 is…

Pictured top:  It’s all about survival for Cade Varella, whose supplies for disaster survival included food, fire starting materials, and a good luck charm. Pictured center:  Bella Wheeler was a germ detective, inspecting surfaces throughout her home and culturing the surfaces to determine which harbored the most contaminants. Pictured bottom:  Fourth grader Nikki Flocco held…

Photo by Terri Wiebold Having stopped by Castle Pines North Wine & Spirits on a Friday afternoon to use my coupon from the March Food & Dining guide, I came upon several Castle Pines neighbors enjoying the free wine tasting offered every Friday and Saturday evening throughout the summer.  Pictured above left to right:  Lisa…