The Connection

By Kathy Dunker with photos by Tim Gamble No, not your ordinary toast to celebrate the anniversary of something great, but rather a breakfast to commemorate the many citizen volunteers who founded The City of Castle Pines [North] three years ago and who continue to contribute to its growth and success today. The Ridge at…

Fourth grader Megan Hassler stands with her weaving project, which earned her top honors from the Douglas County School District. by Lisa Crockett photo courtesy of the Hassler Family Some girls dream of being princesses. For nine-year-old Megan Hassler, channeling royalty is more than a plastic crown and faux jewels – it’s the inspiration behind…

AA’s art show winners from the DCSD art show. Submitted by Trish Cummings With a school-wide emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math, American Academy (AA) students often enjoy a good number of STEM awards and accolades. This year, AA art students are bringing it home as well! Overall, fifteen talented AA students were selected…

AT&T/Cingular Wireless’ new monopine cell tower sits north of Coyote Ridge Park off Mona By Elizabeth Wood West with photo by Jeremy Gamble A new 40-foot tall cell tower for AT&T/Cingular Wireless will soon be providing cell service to its customers that live, work, and travel in the Castle Pines area. The tower sits on…

Information and photos submitted by Castle Pines Academy Castle Pines Academy (CPA), proud to be the first locally-owned and operated childcare center in Castle Pines, is celebrating its first anniversary in March. CPA is an education-based preschool that follows Core Knowledge curriculum and offers a large variety of enrichment programs including dance, Spanish, computer classes,…

Article and photo submitted by Amy Shanahan The Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) MATHCOUNTS team, coached by eighth grade math teacher Chris Gowing, participated in the regional MATHCOUNTS competition on Saturday, February 12th. There were approximately forty schools that participated, including the RHMS team of ten kids. MATHCOUNTS is a national enrichment club and competition…

By Lisa Crockett Churches in Castle Pines Community have a lot planned for Easter and Passover observance. Here are some of the highlights: Abiding Hope Lutheran Church Meets at DCS Montessori School; www.abidinghopelutheran.org *Easter Services: Sunday, April 24 at 9:30 a.m. Castle Pines Community Church Meets at The Shoppes at Castle Pines Shopping Center; www.castlepineschurch.org…

Castle Pines Athletics swings into summer baseball season; sign up by April 25 to secure your spot on a team. Submitted by Castle Pines Athletics Summer just wouldn’t be summer in Castle Pines without baseball. For the third consecutive summer, Castle Pines Athletics is coordinating a co-ed t-ball and baseball program for local children. Registration…

The DCS Montessori Cougar Choir performed a fun and entertaining kazoo interlude during intermission. Article by Lorraine Cooper with photo by Maria Hannigan Seventy second grade students from DCS Montessori culminated a two month study in a March 3 presentation of Tikki Tikki Tembo and The Bremen Town Musicians. During the period, students discussed the…

Abiding Hope pastoral team, from left: Matthew L. Erickson, pastoral intern and Castle Pines site point person; Glenn Hecox, minister for worship and lead team member; Pastor Doug Hill, lead team pastor; and Pastor Chad Johnson, lead team pastor. By Lisa Crockett with photo courtesy of Abiding Hope Lutheran Church Abiding Hope Lutheran Church has…

Avid4Adventure Do your kids like adventure? If so, this might be the perfect camp. With a location nearby in Highlands Ranch, Avid4 Adventure offers fun outdoor adventures with an emphasis on developing friendships, understanding risks, and learning. Activities are age appropriate and include sports like Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Kayaking, Canoeing, and much more.…

Steve and Jen Cooke (left) and Joe and Lin Giampietro (right) are Castle Pines residents and owners of The Garlic Knot in University Hills. Article and photos by Elean Gersack On April 8, the Cooke and Giampietro families will celebrate the first anniversary of their casual Italian family restaurant, The Garlic Knot, located in University…

By Lisa Crockett The Douglas County School District (DCSD) Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution in support of the district’s comprehensive strategic plan, including a “blueprint for choice.” The blueprint for choice includes the “choice scholarship pilot program” for fall 2011. These scholarships (previously known to many as “vouchers”) will provide funding to DCSD…

Article and photos submitted by Kami Wright, Troop 4065 Leader Born after September 11, 2001, the 2nd grade Buffalo Ridge Elementary girls of Brownie Troop #4065 know only a world where our nation’s military engages terrorism overseas on the nightly news. Troop leaders Kami Wright and Jennifer Meinert-Larson saw an opportunity for their scouts to…

Fifth grader Thomas Connelly represented Timber Trail Elementary School and Douglas County School District at the State Spelling Bee in March. by Lisa Crockett photo courtesy of the Connelly family For many of us, pumpernickel is simply a kind of bread, but for Timber Trail Elementary fifth grader Thomas Connelly, “pumpernickel” is a winning word…

Submitted by the Castle PinesChamber of Commerce Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce member Ginny Wainright has reached the rank of senior manager with SendOutCards, a business concept and service that is changing people’s lives. SendOutCards are printed, stamped (with a real stamp), stuffed, and mailed by the company for less than a dollar. They are…

Knox Presbyterian Church, wrenched from its members without permission.One of many historic stone churches that may never rise again. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner While wrapping up a New Zealand trip near Christchurch on February 22, my wife and I started a light meal in a Little River café. Moments later, at 12:50 p.m.,…

Like many of you, I watched the events following the earthquake in Japan with great concern. Our hearts and prayers are with the people of Japan as they recover from the earthquake, tsunami, and the damage to their nuclear power plants. In the aftermath of the tragedy, international aid organizations have organized relief efforts for…

Wish Kid, Taylor, speaking to RCHS at the opening assembly. by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Kate Hartline Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Kids for Wish Kids Program and adopted Taylor’s Wish. Taylor is a nine-year-old boy who wished to go to the Great Barrier Reef. He is an…

Submitted by Sharon Kollmar, chamber president The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce is constantly working to develop new programs and events that will continue to inspire, educate and involve its business members. With that goal in mind, the chamber will begin its third referral group this spring. “We have had such success with our two…

Pictured above: Maddie Scicchitano (swimming in third lane from the bottom) swims the 50 Breaststroke for 10 and younger girls at the State meet in Fort Collins on March 4. By Elean Gersack with photo provided by the Scicchitano family Local 10 year-old swimmer, Maddie Scicchitano, qualified for four events at the Silver State swim…

Arapahoe Community College Castle Rock’s new campus will be located at 4700 Castleton Way in Castle Rock. Article and photo by Elizabeth Wood West Arapahoe Community College (ACC) will be opening its third campus this August, in time for fall 2011 enrollment. ACC Castle Rock’s new 7,800 square-foot facility will be located at 4700 Castleton…

By Elizabeth Wood West, photos courtesy of Cielo Cielo at Castle Pines owner Roz Schroeder recently received Colorado Meetings & Events magazine’s “2011 Best of Colorado Award for Best Meeting & Event Venue [for a Hotel or Resort that holds less than 500 guests, outside Denver Metro area].” Winners of this prestigious industry award were…

Submitted by Sgt. Ron Hanavan Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Douglas County’s founding, Sheriff David A. Weaver has commissioned a commemorative badge that deputies will be authorized to wear from April 1st to December 31st.  The badge symbolizes the faith and trust bestowed upon the office…

Tanzanite is an extraordinary gemstone that has rapidly become one of the most coveted gemstones in the world. It is named after the African state of Tanzania, the only place in the world where it has been found. Upon its discovery in 1967, Tanzanite was enthusiastically celebrated by the specialists as the gemstone of the…

Article and photo by Thomas, Ridgeline staff reporter The Waggoner household was seen late Wednesday night moaning and groaning about a vile sort of stomach bug. “It was a horrible experience, I threw up twice!” groaned a still recovering Thomas. “I didn’t like the stomach bug because my brother couldn’t play with me like he…

On Saturday, March 12, 2011, nearly 200 citizens of Castle Pines joined with members of the city council and city staff for a pancake breakfast to celebrate the city’s third anniversary. As the event unfolded, it was evident how far the city has come in three short years. Thanks to the perseverance and the commitment…

Information provided by Douglas County with photo stills taken from Comcast Newsmakers Veteran broadcast journalist Beverly Weaver (pictured above right) recently interviewed Douglas County Commissioner Jill Repella in a Comcast Newsmakers segment that aired on CNN Headline News. Repella discussed the role of the county in fostering a strong economy; the value of a healthy…

Sky Ridge Medical Center will host the 9Health Fair on Saturday, April 16, from 7a.m. to 12p.m., to promote health awareness with free and low-cost health and educational screenings . Take time to get checked-out. I n addition to having t he opportunity to speak with a medical professional , a variety of screenings are…

Kids of all ages joined Sarah Byrne (pictured center) at the HOA2 playground in Castle Pines to celebrate a generational reunion of sorts. Byrne has provided pre-kindergarten and kindergarten enrichment programs in the community for more thirteen years, and she is a beloved teacher and friend to many. Article and photos by Elean Gersack Three…

Article by Elean Gersack with photo and logo provided by Cherry Creek Sneak Denver’s traditional leap into spring event, The Cherry Creek Sneak, will take place on Sunday, May 1, beginning at 8 a.m. at the intersection of Steele and Ellsworth. This year’s trek around Cherry Creek will support The Kempe Foundation and its mission…

By Joe Gschwendtner Depending upon whom you ask, a house can be either an asset or a liability. In recent years, the real estate market and mortgage meltdown has left many homeowners answering the latter. Since home is where the heart is, pride ensues, and financial difficulties are all too often not addressed until it…

Deputy Gerritt Kaufman with K-9 crime fighter “Boris.” The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team is in great need of donations to replace two of the four police dogs that will be retiring this year. Sheriff Weaver recently approved the acquisition of one new dog and says he is hopeful to secure a second. The…

RHMS sixth grader, Brooklyn Murphy, performing her rendition of “Life of the Party!” Article and photo submitted by Amy Shanahan RHMS sixth grader Brooklyn Murphy recently competed in the Star Systems 2011 Regional Dance Competition and won first place in the musical theater category, with her rendition of “Life of the Party!” She also won…

Let’s consider impacts to the Castle Pines community from federal and state budget cuts. There is no question America has been living beyond its means. There are budget measures being considered in Washington D.C. to reduce deficit spending by the federal government. At the same time, Colorado faces a billion dollar budget gap. Will these…

South Metro Fire Rescue Authority Chief Dan Qualman (right) proudly accepts the CFAI accreditation award with Mike Langello, the planning and analysiscoordinator for the fire authority who oversaw the accreditation process. Information and photo provided by SMFR The South Metro Fire Rescue Authority (SMFRA) was awarded accreditation by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International at…

Information provided by Elean Gersack The Douglas County Cotillion is currently offerring social education classes for boys and girls in the fourth through eighth grades at The Wildlife Experience in Parker. Club Cotillio n for fourth and fifth graders is designed to reinforce social skills and build character essential for developing positive relationships. In addition,…

  State qualifier Ben Butler Submitted by Sharon Majetich Congratulations are in order for Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) seventh grader, Ben Butler, who qualified to represent RHMS at the state of Colorado National Geographic Bee. Thousands of students from the state competed in the Bee, but only 100 students passed the qualifying test to…

By Elizabeth Wood West The Castle Rock area will soon have three new senior care facilities for Douglas County’s aging population: Bonaventure Senior Living, Metzler Memory Care Assisted Living Residences, and Solterra Senior Living Castle Rock. All three of the facilities will offer a variety of services and flexible living accommodations for individual needs and…

Cailin and Libby, second graders in Mrs. Shepherd’s class, get set to see the Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, on February 11, at The Arvada Center. (photo provided by Cari Ogg) Article by Elean Gersack Flat Stanley, the famous flattened boy from the book series by Jeff Brown, has traveled around the world in recent…

By Elizabeth Wood WestRWA) will be holding its biennial meeting on May 7 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Phillip S. Miller Library west meeting room, 100 S. Wilcox Street in Castle Rock. The purpose of the meeting is to hold elections for several director positions and provide updates on the RWA’s ongoing projects,…

By Kathy Dunker with photos by Tim Gamble Be sure to mark your calendar for the 21st Annual Castle Pines North Master Association community-wide garage sale. The sale will run Friday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, May 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are expected to be hundreds…

By Elizabeth Wood West; photo courtesy of Castle Rock Senior Center Forty years ago, a small group of Douglas County residents formed a club for senior citizens that has since evolved into a non-profit organization with nearly 1,000 members. The Castle Rock Senior Center (CRSC) is a community gathering place that promotes friendship, organizes many…

By Lisa Crockett The Rotary Club of Castle Pines is hosting the Resurrection Dance Theater of Haiti in a performance presented by the Haitian Timoun Foundation (HTF) to raise money toward the rebuilding of the St. Joseph facilities for homeless and disabled children, destroyed by the January 2010 Haiti earthquake. The event will be held…

Fourth Graders at BRE research stocks and discuss their team plan for the Stock Market Game on March 15, 2011. Article by Elean Gersack Fourth graders at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) are taking part in the worldwide Stock Market Game ™ (SMG), a learning program geared for fourth through twelfth grade students. The SMG was…

by Lisa Crockett Rock Canyon High School senior Callan McGary is heading to Colorado State University in the fall to major in business finance. Before he gets there, he intends to gain some entrepreneurial experience and give himself and a few friends a summer job. “Some friends of mine and I from the football team…

by Sally Uhrich Irish Food and Fun Featured in, “Taste of Home Magazine” If you’re wanting to deviate from the usual St. Patrick’s Day fare of Corned Beef and Cabbage, consider this recipe from Rosemary Jarvis, of Sparta, Tennessee. It’s one of many Irish recipes featured in the March, 2008 edition of , “ Taste…

Article by Terri Wiebold with photos by Chuck Lowen For the third year running, Chuck Lowen of Lowen Commercial Real Estate sponsored a blood drive in the commercial district of the City of Castle Pines to benefit The Children’s Hospital. “I’ve been involved in organizing bood donations for about eight years now through other organizations,…

Douglas County Libraries Director James LaRue by Terri Wiebold Douglas County Libraries Director James LaRue recently wrote a column about his personal struggles with Spina bifida, a birth defect which is largely preventable if women take a daily B-vitamin with folic acid during pregnancy. LaRue is encouraging participation in a national study to examine the…

The CSU Men’s Lacrosse Team celebrates after winning the RMLC Tournament last spring. Article by Elean Gersack with photos provided by the Byrne family Oh, where does the time go? A few years back, several neighborhood teens competed against one another in high school lacrosse at Rock Canyon, Mountain Vista and Valor high schools. On…

Information provided by the DCWRA In March, the Douglas County Water Resource Authority (DCWRA) will kick-off a process to look at ways to include rural water users in regional water infrastructure planning, quantify regional economics with and without a sustainable water supply, and identify routes to financing future water supplies. It will begin public outreach…

By Lisa Crockett The Giving Tree: Douglas County United Against Hunger, is gearing up for its third annual food drive on March 12 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. to support the Food Bank at the Douglas/Elbert Task Force. Alumni of Leadership Douglas County in Lone Tree started the organization three years ago in response…

Article and photo by Liane Marette Davis The Old Stone Church, built in 1888, was home for many years to the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church congregation. In 1966, the congregation left for another location and remodeling began in 1975 to convert the church into a restaurant. The Old Stone Church Restaurant has an…

Miers with her current Bengal stud and show cat, Thunder Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Judy Miers Judy Miers, resident of Knight’s Bridge, loves her cats. Her humble home is also currently home to nine Bengal cats and a new litter of Bengal kittens that Miers cares for. Coordinator for Bengal Cat…

Elizabeth Celania-Fagen Superintendent February 18, 2011 Dear Douglas County School District Employees and Families: I hope you had a good week and are looking forward to a relaxing weekend. I would like to take a minute to update you on two current events related to our District. First, Governor Hickenlooper released his budget this week.…

submitted by Amy Shanahan, RHMS Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) continues to receive recognition as an outstanding school. The middle school has been chosen as a State School of Character for the third year in a row, one of only three schools in the state of Colorado. State Schools of Character are schools that are…

Storm boys showing their enthusiasm with a round of “thumbs up” from the heating area before a race. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Melissa Jankowski Storming along towards their third season descends the Castle Pines Storm summer swim team. One hundred twenty-seven swimmers strong last year, the team will be holding their…

Article and photos by Elean Gersack Playkgound equipment is typically meant for young children. Unfortunately, older kids and teens sometimes misuse it or leave unwanted graffiti and trash. Local teen George Byrne has discovered a very positive use for the playground equipment located in the HOA2 neighborhood of Castle Pines. Last summer, Byrne came up…

Build it and they will come …Will the boys of summer be playing in Lone Tree? By Patte Smith The crack of a bat on a beautiful summer night as the runners round the bases and the fans go crazy… could this become a reality right here in our own backyard? Don’t get your hopes…

submitted by Amy Shanahan Generation OC was a pilot cooperative effort between Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) and Opera Colorado (OC). The program combined one passionate teacher, 150 8th graders from RHMS, video cameras, computers with the latest design programs, and OC’s education, development, and marketing staff. The goal of the program was to introduce…

Odelia on her Disney World wish trip, made possible by the Make-A-Wish Foundation and generous taxpayers. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Melissa Morris The Make-A-Wish Foundation was chosen once again as part of the Checkoff Colorado program for 2011. This program enables Colorado taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to their favorite charitable…

Submitted by Fran Santagata Douglas County Emergency Management Director Sgt. Ron HanavanPublic Information OfficerDouglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County Commissioners and Sheriff David Weaver Approve Fire Restrictions On March 29, 2011, The Douglas County Board of Commissioners Reinstated Ordinance No. O-003-001, an ordinance restricting open fires and open burning in the unincorporated areas of Douglas…

By Elizabeth Wood West with photos courtesy of the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District Construction has begun on the InterConnect Pipeline (ICP), a major water transmission cooperative effort between Centennial Water and Sanitation District (CWSD) and Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD). The ICP will connect CPNMD’s water system to a pump station and tank…

By Tracy Dudley DCS Montessori School recently teamed up with TerraCycle to start turning collected waste into new products and materials, ranging from park benches to backpacks. TerraCycle recycles and upcycles used packaging from familiar products like Capri Sun, Lays, and Oreos. Out of this comes more than 1,500 various products available at major retailers.…

Linda Nuzum by Carin R. Kirkegaard with photo by Lane Roberts For the past 13 years, Linda Nuzum has served as community leader, communicator, problem solver, watchdog, and tireless advocate for the Castle Pines community. Her endless volunteerism has always been inspired by her wish to be an informed citizen of the community. This wish,…

Lia Halvas, age 10 (right) attended Timber Trail Elementary’s annual daddy-daughter dance, the Snowball, with her sister Kate, age 5 and her dad, Rich . By Lisa Crockett, courtesy photo The Timber Trail Education Association (TTEA) hosted an evening of dancing and fun for girls who go to Timber Trail Elementary and their dads. The…

OLLI-South classes are located in Douglas County about 22 minutes west of Castle Pines, at the Valley View Christian Church at South Santa Fe and Titan Road. Pictured above are OLLI students on a Geology field trip to Dinosour Ridge. Article and photos submitted by Ellen Sloan It’s probably a good guess that most seniors…