This is the story of Lisa McCaffrey. When you hear the McCaffrey name, you may think of Christian, who recently played in Super Bowl LVIII for the San Francisco 49ers. You might remember Ed, who was not only an NFL wide receiver for the Denver Broncos (and the New York Giants and 49ers), but…

  A significant infrastructure project in Castle Rock, the Crystal Valley Interchange (CVI), is underway. On I-25, two miles south of the Plum Creek Parkway and roughly eight miles north of Tomah Road, the CVI has been a top priority of local authorities with the goal to bring improved regional connection to I-25 and the…

  More than 50 people gathered at the Douglas County Library – Castle Pines to provide public input at the City of Castle Pines Planning Commission (PC) meeting on March 28. Their primary objective: to stop a 24-hour-operated McDonald’s restaurant from coming to the southwest corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Lagae Road. After more…

  The Castle Pines community garage sale has been a long-standing, popular event that residents look forward to every year. For decades, families cleared out the old to make way for the new – and make a little money – all while participating in a fun neighborhood event. This year will be no exception. Historically,…

At long last, the traffic signal at the three-way intersection of US 85 and Daniels Park Road is underway. At the end of 2022, the Colorado Department of Transportation could not proceed with the project due to supply chain delays and a funding shortfall. The light is expected to be operational in June.   Article…

On the evening of March 4, the Castle Pines Homes Association (CPHA) held its annual meeting at Cielo at Castle Pines. Approximately 375 members and patrons were in attendance. The agenda included a review of the previous year’s accomplishments to enhance the signature amenities of the Village, along with planned capital improvements for 2024 and…

  Two Indian women, Priya Kumar and Minakshi Ashra, who had been on different career paths, are now embarking on a new journey together as co-owners of The Pines Sports Bar & Grill, formerly Berg Haus. “I wanted to be an entrepreneur,” said Priya. “Minakshi is helping me understand this line of business. It’s exciting!”…

Apple’s annual software update creates as much buzz as the release of its new iPhone models. In September 2023, the iOS 17 released the latest software update. While there are many phone upgrades in every new software release, there are some hidden features in iOS 17 to be aware of. The most notable updates on…

  If you have come across Danni Jenkins, odds are you have found a friend for life. Danni is a Colorado native, having grown up in Parker. She began playing volleyball in fourth grade and continued the sport through Chaparral High School and on to the University of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Today, she calls…

  There are few more enjoyable pastimes than sharing a home-cooked meal with loved ones and friends. Mother of two and talented cook Nancy Saliba shares this sentiment with traditional Lebanese dishes prepared in her home. Nancy grew up in Beirut, Lebanon, where large family gatherings, cooking and attending church services were the center of…

  The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has a team of volunteers who are making a huge difference in law enforcement. The Community Safety Volunteers (CSV) are Douglas County residents who are trained to be invaluable assets; they work in tandem with deputies and civilian office staff to help cover many of the tasks and…

  Memorial Day Run & March 5K, 10K, 30K: Civilians, veterans and uniformed military are invited to challenge themselves in a friendly competition and encouraged to donate non-perishable food items to homeless veterans. Saturday, May 18, 6:30 a.m. Douglas County High School, 2842 Front St., Castle Rock Visit www.memorialdaymarch.com.   Carry the Load Memorial May…

While popularly considered the unofficial beginning of summer, Memorial Day has a long and solemn history that reaches back to the time of the Civil War. It is unclear exactly where and when the tradition started, but not long after the end of the war, during springtime tributes, Americans began decorating the graves of the…

Residents and friends met unexpectedly in Arkansas to see the 2024 total solar eclipse.   In the fields of Russellville, Arkansas, population 30,000, a small group of Castle Pines residents found connections by way of the April 8 total solar eclipse. Most of the viewers had planned to view in Texas, but weather changes sent…

Did you know that the concept of xeriscaping started in Colorado? In 1981, Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado partnered with Denver Water in the Xeriscape Task Force to create an educational demonstration garden showing the beauty possible when using plants that require minimal irrigation, and to produce a public involvement and education program. A member…

  In the quaint town of Sedalia sits a historic little building and grounds, the Sedalia Museum and Gardens (SMG). Getting to know this special place is like taking a step back in time. Save the date for this year’s garden sale, Saturday, May 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., located at 4037 N.…

Amy Fenster is a ball of energy. She is an adventurer, a hiker and provides daily care for patients at UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital. Amy is a nurse working in a combined lab of cardiac catheterization, neuro intervention and intervention radiology. Each day she shines her bright light on those lucky enough to receive her…

  The headline comes from Yogi Berra, but it applies equally to the good folks of Jarre Valley and Jarre Canyon. Douglas County settlers were naturally attracted to water and transportation access: Witness Sedalia’s founder, John Craig, who settled at the confluence of East and West Plum Creeks. The east side of the creeks was…

Dear Mrs. A, Is it ever appropriate to text a thank you for a wedding gift? – Wondering in Winterberry   Dear Wondering in Winterberry, Wedding season is upon us. Mrs. A. is completely old-fashioned, and she is quite emphatic when it comes to these things. So, you may be surprised that in some cases,…

  With the return of spring, many Coloradans look forward to welcoming back the hummingbirds that flew south for the winter. The hummingbird season in Colorado is mid-April through October. These fascinating, zippy little creatures start to command attention in mid-April. Four species of hummingbirds can be seen in Colorado. The most common is the…

Arvada Farmers Market Location: Olde Town Square, 5702 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (June 2 – Sept. 29) A moderately-sized market with a variety of specialty items, this market features produce, honey, baked goods, artisan products and prepared foods. Enjoy libations in Olde Town Arvada. https://www.arvadafarmersmarket.com/   Boulder County…

Joseph Pulitzer, a visionary newspaper publisher and Hungarian immigrant, single-handedly raised the bar for American journalism. Establishing the first collegiate-level journalism program at Columbia University, Pulitzer further endowed the university with guidelines and funds to establish the Pulitzer Prize “as an incentive to [journalistic] excellence,” states the Pulitzer website. There are currently 23 categories, most…

  Some residents got a little help decorating their yards this past Easter. The Easter Bunny could not take all the credit, but some Valor Christian High School (Valor) Eagles sure could. Sixteen students raised money for an upcoming summer mission trip to Kolkata, India by “egging” yards across Douglas County. This definition of egging…

I love the month of May. The weather, while often unpredictable, is generally lovely (random Colorado snowfall notwithstanding). It is also a month of celebrations – Mother’s Day, milestones like graduation, and all things end-of-the-school-year, mean lots of happy reminiscences. And parties. Lots of parties, with lots of delicious springtime treats. I love that May…