The Connection

Robyn Appel in her Greenwood Village boutique, Rebel. Bright colors and funky belts and jewelry are what’s hot for spring. Article and photos by Amy Shanahan Light, casual, friendly and warm are words you might use to describe Robyn Appel upon meeting her. These happen to be the same things you feel when walking into…

Castle Pines resident Travis Grafitti and his partner Devin Lindsey (not pictured) won a Silver medal. By Amy Shanahan, photo courtesy of Brian Hall Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) had two teams participate in the state Science Olympiad tournament on April 21, and one of the teams placed 10th in the state! Science Olympiad is…

Many Castle Pines area ‘tweens and teens are taking part in Douglas County Cotillion held at the Wildlife Experience this Spring. This group of young ladies and gentlemen took time to pose after their Dining Etiquette program on Sunday, April 22. (photo by Elean Gersack)

Shown here are the individual fourth and fifth grade winners along side Science Fair Coordinator, Kristi Feret. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Congratulations to all of the participants of the first-ever Buffalo Ridge Elementary School Science Fair, Mission Green. The fair, held on Thursday, April 26, focused on environmentally conscious experiments and materials and…

By Lisa Crockett A Castle Pines church with deep roots in the community is moving just a few miles up the road to Lone Tree to spread its branches. Solid Life Church, which began eight years ago in the Castle Pines Community Center and then moved to Timber Trail Elementary School will begin holding Sunday…

These Castle Pines youngsters are ready and waiting … Submitted by Scott and Kelsey Lasher A crowd of approximately 1,000 Castle Pines residents filled their colorful baskets to the brim with eggs and prizes at Coyote Ridge Park on Saturday, March 31. The annual event was sponsored by Solid Life Church. More than 16,000 candy-filled…

By Karissa Kelly If you are wondering how late minors can stay out, or all you teenagers need a refresher, listen up so you can be informed of the curfew time. Currently in the City of Castle Pines, the curfew for those under the age of eighteen is 11 p.m. on weekdays and 12 p.m.…

The seminar is sponsored by the Rural Water Authority of Douglas County. Wednesday May 2, 2012 Douglas County Events Center Conference Room 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Preregistration is required. The presentations will address:     Groundwater Availability of the Denver Basin Aquifer System     Water Law     Adjudication What it Is and Isn’t     Well…

DCSO offering awareness classes for parents Article by Elean Gersack Taking a picture or video and pressing send – or even just opening a text or an e-mail. It’s that easy for a child’s life to change forever. The high tech trend is called “sexting” and many seemingly innocent kids do not realize the consequences…

Kitty Migaki: “When I was ten, I wanted to write children’s books and be a librarian. I love that I ended up doing something I wanted to do as a child!” remarked author Kitty Migaki. By Amy Shanahan, photos courtesy of Kitty Migaki Kitty Migaki sees letters of the alphabet in all aspects of the…

The The Animal Care Centers of Castle Pines celebrated its ribbon cutting in April. Pictured are left to right: Dan Schatz, Mayor Jeff Huff, Jonathan James, Dr. Lindsay Crippen, Dr. Brook James, Dr. Jonathan Quint, Dr. Shawn Wayment, Rachael Lissuer, Dr. Lana Groom, Emily Edwards, and Dr. Cheryl Adams. Submitted by Castle Pines Chamber of…

Castle Rock’s Town Trolley will take passengers on a tour of historic landmarks on Saturday, May 19. (Photo provided by the Town of Castle Rock.) By Elizabeth Wood West In celebration of National Historic Preservation Month, the Town of Castle Rock is offering free Town Trolley tours of historic landmark properties on Saturday, May 19.…

RHMS students were happy to share “hugs” with those in need. “It was so easy for us to collect these stuffed animals, and great to know that they will be sent to children who need them,” remarked an NJHS student. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan During the week of April 2, Rocky Heights Middle…

Holding their “pieces of pi” are (left to right) Grant Hengsteler, Nicholas Pacheco, Amanda Scholz, Sarah Cree, Lauren Lee,  Meredith Ham, and middle school math teacher, Benji Billman. Article by Katie Williams with photos courtesy of AA American Academy (AA) students love Pi. We’re talking about the number kind of Pi here, not the pastry,…

Positions are open on the Douglas County Veterans Monument Foundation Board of Directors. Members are required to attend weekly, one-hour board meetings and participate in planning and implementing various Foundation events and fundraising activities. Board position applicants are asked to submit a summary of their qualifications for board appointment. For more information, call Henry Bohne…

Stacy Gaines (right) coordinated the efforts of the many volunteers and items provided to put together the 450 Easter baskets given to those in need. By Amy Shanahan with photo courtesy of Stacy Gaines The “Easter Giving Project” was a huge success this year, thanks to many Castle Pines Connection readers. Organizer Stacy Gaines worked…

Aubrey Eggett was thrilled to be the recipient of such a prestigious honor. “I just thought, Oh my gosh, my hard work paid off! I was happily in shock. It’s hard to explain just how blessed I felt and still feel. This is a dream come true and I couldn’t be more grateful and ecstatic.…

A fundraising event for the Douglas County Veterans Monument initiative Polish that motocycle, grab your gear and get ready to ride in support of the Douglas County Veterans Monument. The 2012 DC Veterans Monument Poker Run and Harley Raffle will be on June 24. The poker run starts at the Castle Rock Bar & Grill…

By Patte Smith with contributed information from the Denver Dumb Friends League The Denver Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center located near Franktown Colorado is now open. One of only a handful of equine centers throughout the county, Harmony offers a safe haven for Colorado horses, ponies, donkeys and mules that have suffered from abuse…

The Easter bunny hopped all the way to the Surrey Ridge neighborhood park in April. Mr., or is it Mrs., Bunny hid eggs for the kids all through the park so when the kiddos arrived the hunt was on. They filled baskets, bags, and pockets with colorful plastic eggs full of goodies. There were coloring…

Connor Jones with his flashlight display discovered which battery lasted the longest at the DCSM Science Fair. Article by Jodi Anderson with photos courtesy of DCSM What happens when you get a large group of preteens excited about science and turn them loose with a hypothesis to prove? You get the recent DCS Montessori (DCSM)…

Dr. Peter Thompson has a Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization and dissertation in school neuropsychology. His dedication to the study of the brain has helped the Douglas County School District lead the way in establishing protocols for handling concussions and other head injuries to student athletes. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Dr. Peter…

Article and photos by Elean Gersack It will be a year to remember! During the month of March, students, staff and families celebrated fifteen years of the first Castle Pines neighborhood school, Buffalo Ridge Elementary. On Friday, March 9, the entire school got in the spirit by wearing “15”. There were 15 bracelets; 15 necklaces;…

By Liz Jurkowski With warm weather approaching, families are preparing for some serious travel. Whether by car or plane, here are some tips to make the journey easier. Pack in advance of your trip. Do not leave loading your bags into the car to the night before the journey. Rather than staying up late, pack…

By Elizabeth Wood West Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) will be holding its regular election on Tuesday, May 8, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This election will be a mail ballot election. Mail ballots will be mailed out to all eligible electors in the City of Castle Pines the week of April 16,…

CSU freshman Ali Will is honored for her achievements in academics, leadership and service to others. Article by Amy Shanahan with photo courtesy of Audrey Will Castle Pines Village resident Ali Will is a high achiever in all aspects of her life. A freshman at Colorado State University (CSU), Will was recently accepted into the…

Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Spirit Week at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) was a great way for students to have some fun and show their school pride at the same time. The event, which was sponsored by the Timber Team – TTE’s version of a student council – featured dress-up days with the following…

Information from the Douglas County Educational Foundation website The 2nd Annual Fittin’ It In 5k race will take place on April 28 at 9 a.m. at Highlands Ranch High School. The Douglas County School District, in partnership with the Douglas County Educational Foundation (DCEF), the Douglas County Federation and the Boulder Running Company are sponsoring…

RCHS Varsity Cheer seniors, mostly Castle Pines (CP) residents, arrived at their banquet on March 21 in a pink Hummer limo. Pictured from left to right, back row: Captain Kelsey Karst, Captain (CP), Alexis Hutchings, Captain Madelyn Falk (Oak Hills), Hope Lytle, Rachel Branson (CP), Captain Lily Sumners, Rahea Miersch (CP), Nicolle Turnock (CP), and…

The Retreat Park is located in the Retreat neighborhood in The City of Castle Pines. By Liz Jurkowski Warm weather in mid-March brought droves of children to the parks of The City Castle Pines. The Retreat Park, normally quiet and secluded, was busy with activity. It was developed in the 1980s with the original plan…

The RCHS Mock Trial team took first place in the state at the annual tournament held at the Boulder County Justice Center.     Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of the Colorado Bar Association Students from Rock Canyon High School (RCHS), took first in state at the Colorado Bar Association State Mock Trial Tournament…

One of Matzat’s morning classes enjoying their baby chicks (pictured from left to right) back row: Matzat and Dylan; front row: Riley, Maddie, Adison, Skylar, Teddy, and Kyle. Article and photos by Kathy Dunker Terry Matzat, 17 year resident of HOA I, was an elementary school teacher when she left to raise her own two…

Democratic Caucus Chairperson Myron Clark was excited by the number of suggestions brought to the table by local party members. Discussions covered everything from the upcoming Presidential election, to a need to reduce emissions on automobiles.      Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Thursday, March 6 was an important day for members of the…

Submitted by the Ann Carter of the Women’s Crisis & Family Outreach Center The Women’s Crisis & Family Outreach Center (WCFOC), through its Young Citizens for Philanthropy (YCP) partnership, is launching its first Cycle Against Violence Bike Race on Saturday, May 19 in Castle Rock. Registration for this event will begin at 6:45 a.m. at…

Team “That Was Easy” is looking forward to competing at the Destination Imagination State Competition. Left to right: Ethan Taub, Landon Hogue, Nick Lombardi and Adam Kohl. Photo courtesy of Christina Kohl. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Rocky Heights Middle School took its first Destination Imagination teams to the Regional Tournament on March 10th.…

RCHS student, Devaraj Tripasuri, prepares his helicopter wing for the Science Olympiad. Science Olympians, Paul Bisesi and Devaraj Tripasuri, are working hard in the early stages of building their helicopter. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos by Matt Gracey Twenty six of Rock Canyon High School’s (RCHS’s) freshman and sophomore students attended the Southern Regional…

By Liane Marette Davis with photos provided by Tana Dolce Looks might fool you on the outside, but many charming treasures await you inside Tana Dolce. Upon entering, you will find it enchantingly decorated with romantic colors, chandeliers, cozy nooks, velvet and silks, intimate balconies, fireplaces, and an exquisite bar that makes you want to…

By Elizabeth Wood West After listening to several hours of compelling questions and concerns from the public, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) continued the public hearing for Castle Pines Village Sketch Plan (SB2011-036) to April 24 at 2:30 p.m. in the Philip S. Miller building, located at 100 Third Street in Castle Rock. The…

By Elizabeth Wood West The Outlets at Castle Rock (The Outlets) received unanimous approval on March 13 from the Town of Castle Rock for its request to increase the hours of operation for its LED sign from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The sign’s new hours of operation went into effect upon the town’s…

  Information provided by the Douglas County Water Resource Authority Douglas County Water Resource Authority (DCWRA) has been awarded the 2012 Universities Council on Water Resources Award for Education and Public Service for the DCWRA “Water Ambassador” program. The Water Ambassador program is active in all high schools and elementary schools in the DCWRA region.…

Dream Team members show off special effects – a fake brain, a fake cut, and a helmet –they used to teach kids about keeping their brain safe during the Dream Team Health Fair on Feb. 24. By Bryce S., BRE Ridgeline staff reporter On February 24, the Dream Team at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE)…

Studio B Interiors owner Bren Hendren is enjoying selling her products to a new customer base, and believes that there is something for everyone in her varied selection of fanciful items. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Studio B Interiors, located in Castle Pines in the Safeway shopping center, is an outstanding choice if you…

(Left to right) Castle Pines Rotary Club President A.J. Arnett, Castle Rock High Noon Rotary Club President Christina Brigham, and Castle Rock Rotary Club President Ed Brewer get their thousands of rubber duckies in a row for the 16th Annual Ducky Derby and Street Festival. By Elizabeth Wood West The Castle Rock Rotary Club, Castle…

Contributed by GreenEarth Cleaners Millions of people around the world will be observing Earth Day on Saturday, April 22. “Earth Day is a special day in our store because it reminds us that we are making a positive contribution to our planet every day by using GreenEarth® instead of traditional drycleaning solvents,” said Thyfault. “Earth…

By Karissa Kelly, intern writer As April rolls around, teenagers all over anxiously await what they hope will be the best night of their high school careers: Prom. Though, it seems prom is not simply a fun and relaxed evening anymore. Today, prom is a multi-billion dollar industry and much has changed from the past.…

Photo of American Academy Charter School taken from Elk Rdge Park. Article by Kathy Dunker The Board of Directors and the Administration of American Academy (AA), looking at its long-term vision, are exploring the feasibility of opening a second campus in Douglas County in 2013-2014. Once determining whether or not a second campus is feasible,…

Electronics Drop Off for Earth Day 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Douglas Elbert Realtor Association 840 Kinner Street, Castle Rock The Douglas Elbert REALTOR Association (DERA) will be hosting an electronics drop off event along with Luminous Recycling to celebrate 2012 Earth Day. Items at no charge are: CPU’s, Hard Drives, Laptops, Modems, PDA’s, Servers,…

Left to right: Marc Towne (CP Council, Ward 3), Carla Kenny, Mayor Jeffrey Huff, Congressman Corey Gardner, Glenn Hagen (CP Chamber Board Chairman), Sharon Kollmar. The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce invited Castle Pines’ new congressman, Corey Gardner to breakfast at the new Mama Lisa’s Little Italy. “It was fun to meet him and introduce…

Article by Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of DCSD Scott Melanson, the lead Technology teacher at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) was awarded the inaugural World Class Educator Award at the Apple Awards celebration for the Douglas County School District (DCSD). This is a new award, which will continue to honor educators who promote 21st Century…

By Elean Gersack Spring is here and it is time to get screened and take charge of your health. Sky Ridge Medical Center will once again play host to the annual 9Health Fair on Saturday, April 28, from 7 a.m. to noon. The 9Health Fair has become a community staple in promoting and encouraging health…

An open house attendee visits with George Tsiouvaras, principal with the Town’s contract engineering firm Tsiouvaras Simmons Holderness. By Elizabeth Wood West with photo by Kristin Accola, Town of Castle Rock An estimated 50 to 60 people attended a recent open house hosted by the Town of Castle Rock regarding the North Meadows Extension (NME)…

State Representative Holbert Colorado House District 44 Contributed by Representative Holbert Governor Hickenlooper signed House Bill 12-1029, “Save Colorado Jobs Act,” into law on Saturday, March 24. The new law allows local jurisdictions in Colorado to waive up to 100 percent of locally assessed business personal property tax. This is the first tax relief measure…

Castle Rock Bridge plays an American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) sanctioned duplicate game every Monday and Tuesday at 1 p.m. Preceding the Monday game, there is a one hour lesson beginning at 11:45 a.m., and an extended lesson beginning at 10:00 a.m. on the fourth Monday of every month. The Monday game is an open…

Team “Bumple Bees” featuring residents of Castle Pines and Sapphire Point, as well as students who attend DCS Montessori and American Academy. Back row: Jesse M, Rebecca P, Claire O, Jasmine F (lives in Sapphire Pointe), Krystal M (lives in BriarCliff, goes to DCS Montessori).  Front row: Brynnley B (lives in Sapphire Pointe), Abigayle E,…

Minors’ passports are valid for three years. Some countries do not admit travelers unless their passport is still valid for six more months. Pick up and drop off applications at the Castle Rock Clerk & Recorder’s Office: 301 Wilcox Street Castle Rock, CO 80104 Download forms at:www.douglas.co.us/clerk/index.html

By Patte Smith Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. Get ready for some fun outdoor events that will be happening around the community. The Starlight Summer Movies series is held in Festival Park, 300 Second Street in Castle Rock. First, on the big screen is “Dolphin Tale,” to be shown on…

Information provided by Master Association board member Jim Steavpack The Castle Pines Master’s Association sponsored a book swap in March. Approximately 300 Castle Pines residents attended the event, which was held at the Castle Pines community center. Avid readers, boys looking for spy thrillers, chefs digging for cookbooks, and little girls seeking “Goosebumps” stories, had…

Timber Trail Elementary fifth grader Jakob Porter stands near the stone sculpture and fountain he created with fellow fifth graders Jaxson Bell and Lucas Palazzo. The work was selected for display at the Douglas County School District art show last month. By Lisa Crockett Outstanding art students at elementary schools in the Douglas County School…

A book review by Joe Gschwendtner Apple Inc. has more than $100 billion cash in the bank, $40 billion more than in 2011. The cash hoard exceeds the market value of all but 52 U.S. publicly traded corporations. If Apple is the house that Steve Jobs built, what indeed do we know of him? “Steve…

Information provided by The City of Castle Pines City council has commissioned National Research Center, a research firm specializing in performance measurement and evaluation, to perform a public opinion survey of residents in Castle Pines. To minimize costs and to maximize resident participation, the survey will be conducted online and will cover a variety of…

Article by Elean Gersack with logo provided by The Dumb Friends League There will be plenty of wagging tails and wet noses at the Denver Dumb Friend League’s (DDL) Furry Scurry on Saturday, May 5, at 9 a.m. More than 12,000 people and 5,000 canines are expected for this 19th annual doggie celebration held at…

Dorri and Dawn Langford Article by Birgit Moran and photo provided by Dawn Langford The phone call any parent fears came true for Ronn Langford in 1986. It was the middle of the night and news came that his youngest daughter, Dorri, 19 years old was dead; killed by a drunk driver. Langford’s experiences and…

Information from the American Heartworm Society The American Heartworm Society reminds dog owners to remain vigilant against heartworm disease Heartworm, a serious and often fatal disease of dogs, cats, and other species of mammals, is preventable. And, with the beginning of the mosquito season, to help raise public awareness, April is recognized as Heartworm Prevention…

Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce members welcome Castle Pines Urgent Care staff with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the clinic’s recent open house. (From left to right) Kevin Jinkerson, Mel Wilner, Anita Holland and daughters Elise and Addison, Monica Wilner and son Chase, Dr. Larry Wilner, Brittany Urban, M.A., Paige Corbett, N.P., and Castle Pines Mayor…

Mr. Lee presents Ms. Wanda Castleman, a representive from Children’s Hospital a check of the money raised from the the 2012 board break-a-thon. Submitted by Grandmaster Han Lee The annual Han Lee Taekwondo Academy Board Break-A-Thon raised more than $12,000 for the Children’s Hospital in March at the event held at Douglas County High School.…