The Castle Pines Connection

The Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation invites the public to Harvest Day at Lowell Ranch. By Elizabeth Wood West; photos courtesy of CALF The Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is hosting its annual Harvest Day on Saturday, October 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the historic Lowell Ranch. The 133-acre working ranch is located…

Principal Mike Loitz fully immersed himself in the magazine sale fundraiser by allowing the kids to duct tape him to a post in the lunch room. He also shaved his head and got soaking wet in the dunk tank. “It was all worth it!” he stated. Article and photos by Amy Shanahan Rocky Heights Middle…

Information from Douglas County website The Douglas County Elections Office has moved to 125 Stephanie Place in Castle Rock. The new location will accommodate the needed consolidation of elections division staff, as well as elections operations, into one location – currently managed in three different locations in Castle Rock. “We outgrew our space,” said Jack…

These super cute kindergarten twins take on the torch relay during the BRE Amazing Race on Friday, September 21. Article and photo by Elean Gersack With the excitement of the 2012 London Olympic Games still fresh in their young minds, students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary were eager to participate in an Olympic Games all their…

Mountain biking is an excellent way to cross train for an upcoming running race. Article and photos by Liz Jurkowski Some people make a New Year’s Resolution to become more active. As usual, life catches up with us and before we know it, it is October and our resolve to keep fit has been compromised.…

By Elean Gersack The Buffalo Ridge Elementary School Fall Book Fair is planned for October 5-11 in the school’s gymnasium. A host of children, teen, and adult books will be available for purchase during the Scholastic All-Star themed event. Mark your calendar for the book fair dates: Friday, October 5: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m …

Cheering on their team, Rock Canyon High School students came out in force dressed for the theme of the night. A sea of white filled the stands, as the Jags claimed victory over the Falcons 21-14. Article by Kathy Dunker; photos by Rock Canyon Photos The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) Jaguars varsity football team…

By Liane Marette Davis; photos courtesy of Abra Sharp Have a running list of restaurants to try? Here is one that needs to be on the top of your list. Go tonight if possible; it is that fantastic. Where once was The Millar Spice Factory and Coffee Company in downtown Denver (dating back to the…

Second grader Jackson Royal makes a strong play at the Timber Trail Elementary Mother-Son Kickball Tournament. Article and photos by Lisa Crockett For the fourth year in a row, boys at Timber Trail teamed up with their moms for a kickball tournament at Coyote Ridge Park. Roughly 260 players gathered to play ball, eat dinner,…

The Garden Club kicks off each new year with a luncheon in September. This year it was held at the home of one of the board members. The club is actively seking new members who share a love of gardening and an interest in charitable causes. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Joan Fessler The…

Renie Bjorklund, a member of the Abiding Hope Lutheran Church, which meets in Castle Pines, and Pastor M. Titus Nirmal Kumar, who is a Pastor at an Abiding Hope Church in India. Bjorklund visited Pastor Titus in India to assist him in his work there. The church has a strong emphasis on serving others. By…

Article by Kathy Dunker Managing forclosure properties in Douglas County Letter to the editor dated July 27, 2012: I’d appreciate you investigating the foreclosure process and responsibility in maintaining properties including lawn maintenance … the [bank] owner has done nothing to maintain the appearance of the property. The HOA says they’ve written letters and all…

Now fourth graders Ryan and Alex were ready and excited to run in last year’s BRE Rock Slide Fun Run! Article and photo by Elean Gersack Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) will host the school’s annual Rock Slide Fun Run on Saturday, October 6, beginning at 9 a.m. The race will include both a 5K run…

Timber Trail Elementary students Reid and Emily used the GPS coordinates to find the letter “F” on their day off from school. They used Google Maps to find the coordinates, then used the map app on the iPhone to find the exact spot. “I saw the “F” right away!” stated Emily. Reid says that he…

Photo by Elean Gersack Neighbors helping neighbors A crew of strong men from Turweston Lane (and one from Malvern Court) took time to move a play set across the street to its new home on Labor Day. A few beers to take home and plenty of laughs along the way seemed to be enough motivation…

   By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of Liane Davis The hills will be covered in snow in a few short weeks. Make plans now to get pass ready so you can beat the lines and head straight to the top of the mountain. See below for a list of great pass programs. Fifth and Sixth…

She just can’t get enough! Castle Pines Village resident Beth Markowski gets back on the court following foot surgery. The day before, she watched the U.S. Open Men’s Finals and got inspired to get some practice in with pro, Steff Porter. (photo by Elean Gersack)

CASTLE ROCK WRITERS CONFERENCE 2012: ROCK-SOLID WRITING Castle Rock Writers Conference is back with a 2012 Conference –a quality, one-day writers conference to be held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds Events Center in Castle Rock on Saturday, October 13, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. As a newly-established, non-profit organization, Castle Rock Writers are dedicated…

Fall Festival Sunday, October 14 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. By Elizabeth Wood West; photos courtesy of RidgeGate Development The public is invited to Schweiger Ranch’s annual Fall Festival for a day of seasonal family fun. Schweiger Ranch is located within the RidgeGate development at 10822 Valley Hwy., just south of Lincoln Avenue, on the…

By Amy Shanahan; graphic courtesy of the Lone Tree Arts Center New Year’s Eve is looking like a whole lot of fun thanks to a fabulous event being held at the Lone Tree Arts Center (LTAC). The LTAC has a very active Guild, which is organizing a grand event. The New Year’s Gala, called “A…

Date: Tuesday, October 2, 2012 Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Location: American Academy Cafeteria Are you finding that it is increasingly difficult to know what your kids are up to online? Does the whole thing make your head spin? The Douglas County Sheriff’s Department will offer a Cyber Safety Presentation for Parents on October…

The annual Octoberfest in Castle Pines featured fun activities for families and friends of the area. The local business community was the theme of this year’s event and they were pleased to meet and greet the residents of Castle Pines. Local agencies, such as the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Douglas County Library, were…

Clyde Fessler’s home office in Castle Pines Village is decorated with Harley-Davidson memorabilia, and features a wall of photos which tell the story of a fascinating and exciting life. Being an author is his latest accomplishment. By Amy Shanahan, photo by Amy Shanahan and courtesy of Clyde Fessler “We fulfill dreams” is a mission statement…

Calvin Ko (left) and Nicholas Gaither (right) from Ms. Jennifer’s fourth grade class did their share of laps to help raise over $48,000 for their school. Article by Valerie Lockey; photos courtesy of Kristina Sheppard School funding has changed during the past few years, and DCS Montessori (DCSM) is finding creative ways to meet funding…

FREE Golf Lessons for Kids! Hosted by Director of Instruction Dennis Murray, PGA Mike Weingartner, Golf Professional Where: The Ridge @ Castle Pines, Practice Putting Green What: FREE Golf Lessons for Kids, $20 Lessons for Adults GET GOLF READY Clinic … Introduction to the game of Golf When: Saturday, October 20, 2012, at Noon For:…

Two of Surrey Ridge’s long-time residents, Margaret Miller and Maisie Choniski, enjoyed the fun evening out, even if they had to bundle up a bit. By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of Valerie Miller Around seventy-five of Surrey Ridge’s families and friends enjoyed an evening of music and a movie in the neighborhood park. With the…

Left, Jeanne Gormley with her award-winning floral wedding bouquet. Right is close-up of her exquisite coordinated boutonniere. By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of Jeanne Gormley Surrey Ridge resident and floral artist Jeanne Gormley won second place in the professional division for her bridal bouquet at the 2012 Floral Expo Bridal Bouquet Competition, hosted by the…

Photos by Julie Montoya On September 8, the owls of HawkQuest came to Cherokee Ranch and Castle to teach guests about some of the amazing creatures that roam our Colorado skies. This event was part of Cherokee Ranch’s ongoing cultural and education program. For more information on upcoming events, visit www.cherokeeranch.org. To learn more about…

By Elizabeth Wood West Beginning the first part of October, drivers may want to avoid the vicinity of the Quebec and Lincoln-University intersection and find roadway alternatives. Douglas County is scheduled to begin work on a 60-day multi-phase operational and maintenance roadway project that will focus on improvements and approaches to this busy intersection, causing…

Five years of great customers and cakes By Julie Montoya with photo courtesy of The Bundt Shoppe Our favorite Castle Pines Bundt Shoppe is turning five years old, and is celebrating with two days of fun and prizes! The Bundt Shoppe’s anniversary celebration is September 20 and 21, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. In…

City of Castle Pines Mayor Jeffrey Huff making a presentation to the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce board of directors on August 22 regarding the city’s proposed TABOR ballot question for this November’s election.    City officials and staff held an open house in August to meet with residents and answer questions regarding the upcoming TABOR…

Article by Lisa Crockett with graphic by Tim Gamble The Denver Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is celebrating its twentieth Race for the Cure event in October. The race, which will be held on Sunday, October 7, will take place at the Pepsi Center and will feature a 5K competitive run this…

By Terri Wiebold Thank you to our dedicated readers and to all of you who contribute stories, photos and ideas to the paper each and every month. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be able to share your stories with the Castle Pines community. You voted The Castle Pines Connection newspaper number one…

Left: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Mike Garcia gets bombarded with questions by Castle Pines kids while on patrol on August 2 in the Briar Cliff neighborhood. Right: Garcia and Castle Pines resident Jack Zelkin pose for a photo op after the deputy spent close to an hour educating kids about police officers and the…

Metzler Memory Care owners (left to right, Denny and Patty Southwick, daughter Katie Gray, and Iram Din (husband Aamer Masood not pictured). Photos and story by Elizabeth Wood West Metzler Memory Care Assisted Living Residences, located at 864 Barranca Drive in Castle Rock, is now open. Metzler Memory Care is owned and operated by local…

Pictured left to right: Dr. Jason Ortman (Castle Pines Eye Care); Drs. Jeff and Stephanie Scheich (Castle Pines Family Dentistry); Dr. Matthew Rolfson (Castle Pines Dental Care); Dr. Andrew Dunbar (Castle Pines Orthodontics); and Jeffrey Huff, mayor of Castle Pines. Article and photo by Elean Gersack On Friday, August 24, the proud owners of the…

Photos by Julie Montoya On Friday, August 17, more than 500 Castle Pines residents of all ages gathered at Coyote Ridge Park to watch a movie in the park. “We Bought a Zoo” was a big hit, and residents really enjoyed the movie. The Castle Pines North Master Association sponsored this community event. In addition,…

Castle Pines resident Edgardo Torres enjoying breakfast. By Elizabeth Wood West What could be better than a great Mexican food restaurant in the neighborhood? How about a great Mexican food restaurant that serves a delicious breakfast menu? Las Fajitas is now serving breakfast Friday through Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Owner Alberto Granados…

Castle Pines Village residents Heidi and Maggie Zeh were the first to “see the E” and send in their photo to the Castle Pines Connection! Their geo-cache search led them to the light post by the entrance to Surrey Ridge. “This was a fun letter to find,” remarked Maggie. “It took us a minute to…

On Thursday, August 23, the Castle Pines Chamber hosted a luncheon with Congressman Corey Gardner, who represents the Fourth Congressional District of Colorado. Pictured to the right, left to right: Douglas County Sheriff David A. Weaver, Castle Pines Chamber Vice President Carla Kenny, Congressman Corey Gardner, Castle Pines Chamber Chairman Glen Hagan, State Representative for…

Rocky Heights Middle School seventh and eighth grade students who traveled to Costa Rica made new friends and learned a great deal about the culture. The seventh and eighth grade students had the opportunity to aid in the protection and conservation of the area by planting a tree. By Amy Shanahan, photo courtesy of Kay…

Article and photo by Lisa Crockett The liquor store adjacent to $1.99 Cleaners in the Safeway shopping center in Castle Pines has a new owner, a new name, and an emphasis on friendly service and value. True Liquors is celebrating its grand opening during the entire month of September. “We have store-wide price cuts on…

Brian Olcott displays the soccer gear he collected for his Eagle Scout project. Olcott donated the cleats, balls and shin guards to a Boys and Girls club in northeast Denver. Article and photos by Lisa Crockett The girls soccer team sponsored by the Denver Bronco’s Branch of the Boys and Girls Club in northeast Denver…

The event tent was a full house, first with dinner and then a show. Country superstar Willie Nelson was scheduled to perform, but had to cancel do to health concerns. A local acoustic band filled in, and the show was a complete success! Article and photos by Julie Montoya On Saturday, August 18, Jana and…

Photojournalism by Julie Montoya Recently, neighbors in Forest Park have noticed there is a new member of their community, and he is making a lot of noise. This new resident is a fledgling red tail hawk. Accompanied by his parents, this youngster has ventured out of the nest, but is not quite ready to move…

DCSM’s first ever seventh grade class hit the mountains last month for an adventure in outdoor education at YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park. By Jodi Anderson Each school year is unique and brings its own joys and challenges, but this year DCS Montessori (DCSM) is overflowing with excitement and energy.  As our new…

Autumn is a splendiferous time of year.  Warm during the day and cool evenings, it is a time of the year to get out and enjoy the many seasonal activities in the Castle Pines area and the surrounding areas. First and foremost is a Castle Pines tradition presented by The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce: …

Taylor Kelly was crowned Miss Colorado Teen in June. “Achieving this goal was truly an amazing experience!” By Amy Shanahan, photo courtesy of the Kelly family Taylor Kelly, a sophomore at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS), and resident of Castle Pines Village, had a very exciting summer! In June, Kelly was crowned Miss Colorado Teen…

By Kathy Dunker Colorado big game hunting seasons are now underway. Opening and closing days for all types of big game hunts are determined by the Colorado Department of Wildlife (CDOW) and vary for each animal including bear, deer, desert bighorn sheep, elk, moose, mountain goats, pronghorn, and rocky mountain bighorn sheep. They also vary…

By Elean Gersack The halls at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) are bustling with plenty of new faces. During new family registration on August 8 and 9, more than 60 new students enrolled. Only days later, the first bell of the school year rang on Monday, August 13, and students had the chance to locate…

By Elizabeth Wood West with photos by Shelly Barnes It is hard to say what Younique Expressions Art & Wine Bar’s (Younique) CEO, Shelly Barnes, prefers – providing an enjoyable environment for would-be artists or supporting special charities close to her heart. Fortunately for Barnes, her new business venture will let her do both. Younique…

Sixth grade student and Castle Pines resident Seth Bowen has loved his first few weeks of middle school, and is finally getting used to his heavy backpack and huge binder. “I think it’s really fun but really different – there are so many more people, and so many more teachers! I love it! It’s fun…

By Elean Gersack It’s not too late to improve your swing this year. Ladies, now that the kids are back in school, why not get together with friends and neighbors and learn to play golf at The Ridge Golf Course at Castle Pines? The weather is not too hot and not too cold – ideal…

By Elean Gersack Follow the trail of wagging tails and wet noses to the Dumb Friends League’s Wag ‘n Trail and help support homeless pets. This 1.6-mile hike, for people and their dogs, takes place Saturday, September 22, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Glendale Farm Open Space on the west side of Surrey…

The Wilkins family in Forest Park witnessed the nesting, hatching, and growth of two baby hummers right in their own backyard this summer. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos by Mark Wilkins In the Colorado springtime, many people anxiously await the return of migrating birds. Especially fun to watch are the hummingbirds.  Colorado has four…

  By Chris Bonham Castle Pines is a terrific place to live because there is something for everyone of all ages. An organization that is contributing to the all-inclusiveness of the senior community at large is the Highlands Ranch Senior Club. An organization built on encouraging people in the community ages fifty and older to…

The life experience and passion of two friends has come together to create world-class, award-winning red wines – right here in our own backyard. Ruby Trust Celalrs is a Castle Pines Village-based company making wine locally with the help of family and friends. By Amy Shanahan with photos courtesy of JimmysPhoto.com Hidden in the obscure…

Information and photo provided by Douglas County Officials from Douglas County, the City of Lone Tree, and Coventry Development Corporation celebrate the public private partnership that resulted in the new 3.1 mile East West Regional Trail Extension. The extension runs from Bluffs Regional Park to the RidgeGate Interchange. The allseason trail surface is designed for…

Bears are seen in and around the Castle Pines community. Here, a bear recently seen in Castle Pines Village finds the contents of abirdfeeder potentially appetizing. By Liz Jurkowski and photos sent in by Laura Zeh As Coloradans, wildlife surrounds us. We do not have to go far to enter habitats of many wild animals.…

Sixty-four women joined in the The Red Hawk Ridge Ladies’ Golf Club’s Nine Hole Better Ball Tournament to raise more than $4,600 for The Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center and The Douglas/Elbert Task Force and Food Bank. Information and photo sent in by Sharon Ferris, tournament co-chairperson On July 25, The Red Hawk Ridge…

Article and photo by Julie Montoya August saw some crazy weather with thunderstorms, hail, funnel clouds, and fierce rain. But there is still time to get out and enjoy the good weather, with a mild fall ahead. The Farmers Almanac predicts that September 2012 will see warmer temperatures then on average. After the first week…

These fifth grade buddies are all grins, some more colorful than others from snow cones. Article by Elean Gersack with photo by Cari Ogg The fourth annual Buffalo Ridge Stampede & Carnival, held on Friday, August 24, was full of fun, laughter, wet teachers, and new friendships in the making. More than 450 students and…

Information provided by Douglas County Castle Pines residents looking to renew vehicle registrations or visit the Department of Motor Vehices (DMV) now have a closer option, thanks to the relocation of the Parker DMV. In August, Douglas County moved its motor vehicle operations from Parker to the Lone Tree location. The new office is located…