Read the stories from the latest issue:
On March 22, friends and family gathered to play pickleball and to honor and remember Kyra Peck, who in 2024 passed away at 20 years old from cardiomyopathy. This was the second annual pickleball tournament at the SportyPickle Bar & Grill in Englewood. Two years ago, Kyra’s parents, Shari and Tony, launched the nonprofit Because…
Hannah McDonald has committed to play lacrosse at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Congratulations!
The word “yoga” comes from Sanskrit and means “to unite,” symbolizing the goal of connecting body, mind and awareness. There are many different types of yoga, each with its own rhythm, intensity and focus. Some types of yoga are fast-paced and energizing, while others are slow and deeply restorative. Some emphasize strength and balance, while…
Valerie and Greg Jones and their five kids have been part of the Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) community for almost a quarter of a century. Their oldest, Avery, started kindergarten at BRE in 2002. Harper, the youngest, will graduate from fifth grade this month, ending the Jones tenure after 24 years. Both Greg and Valerie…
On April 17, the American Academy – Castle Pines annual art show featured amazing creations by kindergarten through fifth-grade students. Inspired by pop artists Claes Oldenburg and Peter Anton who produced oversized food and candy art, the theme of this year’s show was Farm to Factory. “This year we mixed popular culture and food. I…
Castle View High School Selena Aristizabal Martinez Elias Bouayad Ryland Buchhop Caden Bunker Connor Bunker Sadie Canaday Kash Dittenber Abbylynn Farrell Brandon Favaro Zander Ferguson Antonio Franco Talus Frederick Jada Freeman Elizabeth Garlock Christian Gean Caleb Glenn Lizbeth Gonzalez Benhumea Piper Hannon Kyle Heath Alejandro Hernandez Brynlee Howard Alden Hunsinger Kelsie James Jade Jesurun Hana…
Rock Canyon High School senior Ashton Stamp is one of eight Douglas County School District students to receive the prestigious Daniels Fund Scholarship. Launched by the late businessman and philanthropist Bill Daniels, the Daniels Fund gives students in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming up to a full cost of attendance to college or university…
Black and Gold, Rock Canyon High School’s (RCHS) 2025 yearbook, won the venerable Gold Crown Award at the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s (CSPA) spring convention at Columbia University in New York. Crown Awards recognize overall excellence in either print or digital student publications from around the world, chosen by a panel of judges. This is…
People often ask, “Is Venalonzo your last name?” The simple answer is yes, but there is a rich and storied history behind it. Owners and siblings Nati and Pako say Venalonzo’s Tacos is “very personal and purposefully designed to represent not only our family but also the culture where we grew up.” For them, the…
For the first time in school history, the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) boys basketball team took first place in the state championship game. On March 15, the No. 5-seeded RCHS Jaguars upset the No. 2-seeded Ralston Valley High School Mustangs 68-58 at the Class 6A tournament at Denver Coliseum. The day before, the…
The Canyons neighborhood is continuing to be developed with new luxury rental townhomes to be called The Peaks. Construction on the 70-unit community broke ground at the end of March and is expected to be completed in late 2027. Located at the southeast intersection of Canyonside Boulevard and Canyon Forge Drive, the community will feature…
The applicant, VT Crowfoot Valley Landco, LLC, has withdrawn its petition for annexation of the Crowsnest property. Therefore, the previously scheduled public hearings with the Planning Commission and City Council have been canceled. If the applicant resubmits an annexation petition for the property, public notice will be provided via the City’s communication channels, including email, social…
On February 19, AdventHealth Castle Rock marked a significant milestone in expanding access to comprehensive oncology services with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Schrader Family Cancer Center. The new center brings high-quality, whole-person cancer care closer to home. The celebration reflects years of planning and strong community partnership. Through the Rock of Hope Campaign,…
The City of Castle Pines held two open houses in February, one at The Canyon House Kitchen + Cocktails and the other at the Castle Pines Community Center. City officials were on hand at the well-attended gatherings to answer questions about development and planning, construction projects, zoning and retail space, to name a few. “It…
Beginning Friday, April 3, slash-mulch and green yard waste services will operate at a new location: 5675 Delva Way in Sedalia. Regular hours are Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October 31. For the first two weeks, the site will be open on Fridays as well—April 3 and 10. The slash-mulch and green…
To provide a safe, convenient and responsible way for citizens to dispose of prescription medication that is no longer needed, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) holds two National Prescription Drug Take Back Days each year: one in the spring and one in the fall. “Protecting our community’s water supply and what gets washed into it…
Walking into The Cove Concierge Medicine (Cove) and visiting with board certified family medicine physician Aaron Block, M.D. is like stepping back into a time when doctors made house calls. His attention, humbleness and warmth fill the room. Cove is located next to AdventHealth Castle Rock. As the son of a physician and dietitian,…
Jen Moody Advertising Account Manager Jen Moody has lived in Douglas County for 24 years with her family—her husband of 25 years and their three children. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication from Colorado State University and brings 15 years of sales experience and a strong marketing background, including selling IT products and…
Small businesses play a vital role in the Castle Pines community, supporting local families, sponsoring youth programs, and helping shape the city’s unique character. From neighborhood restaurants and boutiques to professional services and home-based businesses, these enterprises keep the local economy strong while creating places where neighbors connect. Castle Pines will join communities across the…
Dr. James and Nicole Pacheco had only been in Castle Pines for about ten minutes when they decided it might be “home.” After living in Ohio for six years, they were exploring the South Denver area, searching for a lifestyle like the one they grew up with in Salt Lake City. While stopping at…
Long legs, a fluffy tail and ears as big as his body make Oliver a unique little dog. He is a mix of seven breeds, primarily chihuahua, poodle and rat terrier. He is a very special pup to the Bass family—Evan, Gurgiana and their 8-year-old daughter Ava. “We are happy to be his parents,” said…
“Everyone has something to teach you, so always be curious and always be kind.” Lauren Hanna is a wife, mother, friend and artist. Lauren is also a trailblazer: a girl who learned to fly a plane as a preteen, worked her way up in aviation as a safety expert, and today is an executive…
Hope Haven Rwanda (HHR) opened in 2012 by Susan Hollern of Sedalia. The nonprofit Christian school began as a small classroom under a cascading acacia tree and has blossomed into a thriving 220,000-square-foot campus with 65 classrooms, labs and libraries, serving more than 2,200 students in the Murindi sector of Kigali, in the Republic of…
Canyons Community Church 4825 Crowfoot Valley Road, Castle Rock Easter Sunday, April 5, 10:30 a.m. canyonscc.org Castle Oaks Covenant Church 826 Park Street, Castle Rock Easter Sunday, April 5, 10 a.m. castleoaks.org Castle Rock First United Methodist Church 1200 South Street, Castle Rock Stations of the Cross, April 1, 10 a.m. to 7…
Earth Day on April 22 is a chance to celebrate the home we all share, whether it is joining an event or simply looking for ways to appreciate the natural world around us. Here are a few family-friendly ideas to celebrate all month: Take a walk or hike and collect natural paintbrushes, such as long…
This month’s segment of Colorado’s official emblems and symbols looks at the official state insect: the Colorado Hairstreak Butterfly. This distinctively colored butterfly that lives in Gambel oak groves was adopted as the official insect in 1996, after urging from fourth graders across the state. Colorado was the 37th state to officially declare a state…
That the Revolutionary war began after the Battles of Lexington and Concord was unsurprising. The British monarchy did not tolerate challenges to its authority. American pioneers were upstarts by definition, resentful of having their new world freedoms trampled. Thus, for the colonists, what began as a fight for their rights quickly became one for…
Northeast of Castle Rock, near Elizabeth, are the remains of Spring Valley, a historic rural settlement known to most as a stagecoach stop on the West Cherry Stage Road along Running Creek. Today, relics can be found at the 10th tee box of the Spring Valley Golf Club. Spring Valley was settled by French,…
Squishy toy craze Middle and high school students cannot get enough of squishy toys like NeeDohs and Rainbow Mystery Dumplings. The toys come in different shapes, colors and sizes and are filled with a stretchy, dough-filled glob. One squeeze explains the craze but finding them on store shelves can be a challenge. “Every kid has…
April is national poetry month. Established in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets to “increase awareness and appreciation across culture and education,” it has “become the largest literary celebration in the world,” states the Academy. With dozens of types of poems, there is something for all levels of poetry engagement. Take a look at…
Dear Readers, Easter is right around the corner and the old school fashion dictates would have you believe that you can START wearing white! Historically, Easter was a major church and social debut moment when people wore new spring outfits and Easter bonnets. In traditional fashion etiquette, Easter symbolized the beginning of the spring social…
A vibrant sense of community is one characteristic that sets Castle Pines––the 80108 ZIP code more specifically––apart from other Colorado communities. Neighbors know each other, they spend time together and they support each other. If you are a new resident, you have likely already experienced this firsthand. The same holds true for our friendly business…
In Polish Poker, also known as Turtle, Hara Kiri and Crazy Nines, the player with the lowest score wins the game. Think strokes in golf. The connection to poker is that success involves managing hidden information and memory. The game can be played with two to six players. Each player receives six cards face down…
(Solutions at bottom) Interested in sponsoring this page? Email advertise@castlepinesconnection.com Spring Crossword Across 1. 40 winks 4. Devotee 8. Nile bird 12. Color quality 13. Sundae topper, perhaps 14. Garment folds 16. Field worker 17. Computer info 18. Creeper 19. Cancel 21. Baby rhino 23. Like a busybody 24. All ___ 25. Eastern ties 27.…
In my world, there is nothing better than a really delicious sandwich. If the ingredients are fresh and the condiments are plentiful, I would argue that a really great sandwich is in the top five of excellent-return-on-investment foods (see also: milk and cereal, cheese toast). Fresh-sliced turkey on a squishy sub roll? Yes, please.…
Another 80108 athlete, Coby Short, has committed to play soccer at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. Congratulations!
Native to Asia, lemons are a citrusy superfood that are perfect for springing into spring in Colorado. Whether sipping refreshing lemonade on a warm, sunny day, brightening a soup or stew with a squeeze of lemon on a snowy day, or giving the house a good spring cleaning, lemons are the ray of sunshine we…
“Where hearts and minds connect” is more than a mission statement for Timber Trail Elementary (TTE)—it is a regular daily practice for the school community. This school year, parents, PTO and the school community have been busy installing new turf, planning staff appreciation days and hosting fundraising events. The PTO and parents of TTE continued…
The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) family came together for this year’s Wish Week to grant 6-year-old Dre’s special wish. Dre loves trains, dinosaurs, trains, Spiderman and trains! Dre has a brain tumor. The week kicked off with Dre visiting Longmont Public Library, where he explored the model train display and colored a train on…
Thirteen-year-old Finley loves fishing, Colorado sports teams and the popular online game Fortnite. Finely was chosen as the 2026 Wish Kid for Valor Christian High School (Valor), to raise money for his wish to visit Hawaii with his family. Finley has leukemia. Wish Week activities included a teacher-vs-student Fortnite dance battle, where Finley chose the…
PEAKY PEAK Coffee & Charcuterie: Global phenomenon & well-kept secret Once a well-kept secret of Southeast Asia, Vietnamese coffee has grown into a global phenomenon. From the bustling corners of Hanoi to contemporary coffee shops in London, New York, and now Lone Tree, Vietnamese coffee is quickly rising as the preferred coffee in shops worldwide.…
Castle Valley neighbor Lauren Scott has been an athlete for as long as she can remember. But it was not until her sophomore year in high school that she discovered the sport that changed everything. Lauren is making history as the first female athlete from Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) to earn a college scholarship…
To continue supporting the growth on the east side of Castle Pines (east of I-25), North Canyons Development Company (NCDC) is actively working to realign the current S. Havana Street several hundred feet to the east and put in place some of the underlying infrastructure for future development. S. Havana Street will remain open during…
Community leaders celebrated a milestone on February 4, breaking ground at the future site of Elementary School 50 (temporary name), at 11151 Adage Road in Lone Tree. This is the first ground-up elementary school DCSD has built in more than 15 years. The new school will serve approximately 750 Pre-K through sixth-grade students in the…
Development is being proposed west of I-25 in Lone Tree for a new subdivision called Hillcamp Subdivision or the Mesa Tops project, with a plan to build 343 homes. Brookfield Residential and RidgeGate Investments, Inc. have applied to the City of Lone Tree to build a large single-family neighborhood totaling 400 acres split across two…
Douglas County, in partnership with the City of Lone Tree, Parker Water and Sanitation District, and South Suburban Parks and Recreation is building a trail connection for residents of Tall Tales Ranch near RidgeGate Parkway and S. Havana Street. On January 27, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners approved a Public Contract for Services for…
On February 10, the Castle Pines City Council approved a construction contract for renovations to the Castle Pines Community Center located at 7404 Yorkshire Drive. The space began as a sales center for the community, and for more than two decades, the facility has been (and will continue to be) the location for the Castle…
After an overwhelmingly successful first year, the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive is back for Round 2, bringing local first responders and the community together once again to help save lives. According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, last year’s event exceeded expectations, with collective efforts resulting in 212 units of blood donated––enough to…
“Football is so fun and not just for boys.” Knightsbridge neighbor Marlee Jackson (11) loves football and is actively recruiting for the first girls flag football league through Castle Pines Athletics (CPA). CPA has had a co-ed NFL flag football league for more than a decade, but this spring is the first time they are…
Every year at this time, college basketball fans wait with great anticipation for the NCAA Division I mens basketball championship tournament, commonly known as March Madness. While it has evolved into one of the most popular and well-known sporting events in the United States, many people may not know of its humble beginnings and remarkable…
Local elementary, middle and high schools all agree that their School Resource Officers (SRO) are amazing. In honor of National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day, celebrated every year on February 15, each school took time to personally thank and recognize their SROs last month. There are 43 deputies who serve schools across Douglas County. As…
There are 18 student athletes from the 80108 ZIP code who signed letters of intent to play their sport at the collegiate level. It takes a great deal of discipline and hard work to balance academics and athletics. Congratulations college-bound athletes! By Hollen Wheeler; courtesy photos
Adorable “future graduate” onesies are being gifted to newborns across the county by the Douglas County School District (DCSD). It is all part of the Healthy Families Partnership (HFP) of Douglas County, a community-based source for maternal/child health and family wellness. When babies are born at a Douglas County hospital—including AdventHealth Castle Rock, AdventHealth Parker,…
Douglas County School District (DCSD) Superintendent Erin Kane spoke last month to the Leadership Douglas County class of 2026. Kane shared her journey to the top, her leadership principles and discussed the challenges and successes of overseeing the third largest school district in Colorado. DCSD has 92 schools, employs more than 7,600 staff (including 3,600…
American Legion Harry C. Miller Post 1187, assisted by a local Cub Scout pack, presented The Four Chaplains Ceremony on January 31 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Castle Rock. The annual solemn ceremony commemorates the selfless acts of four chaplains aboard the USAT Dorchester when the ship sank during World War II;…
Transitioning from fifth grade to middle school is exciting, and it can be a little scary and stressful for adolescents about to leave elementary school behind. For the first time, students will have to manage multiple classrooms and class schedules, a major milestone of independence. Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) takes pride in focusing on…
There has been a significant increase in scam calls involving individuals impersonating members of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). In one of the most common scams, callers claim to be deputies or sergeants with DCSO. They often tell the person they are calling that they missed jury duty and now have a warrant for…
After a brief pause for the holiday break, Happy Crew has resumed its weekly meetings at the Happy Crew Coffee House in Lone Tree and is welcoming students from all Douglas County high schools. Happy Crew is a nonprofit with a mission to destigmatize mental health issues by creating a supportive, inclusive community where everyone…
On January 29, Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) members gathered at Seasons 52 at Park Meadows to celebrate the successes of 2025, welcome new board members, share plans for the year ahead, and award local organizations. Large business of the year awarded to CORE Electric Cooperative Nonprofit of the year awarded to Backpack Society…
Jodi Stevens thought she had little time to live after experiencing a basilar artery aneurysm at the base of her brain in 2009. Jodi said she thought about her two young daughters and what she wanted her legacy to be. “From my hospital bed, I made my husband, Robert, promise me that he would help…
Rachel Goodman and her family moved to the Knightsbridge subdivision in 2022. She is a mom, wife, friend, cancer survivor, volunteer, coach, book club member and financial planner. Energy and passion propel the life she leads with purpose and kindness. Rachel and husband, Raymi, who is in real estate in Elizabeth, both grew up on…
Red and black with tiny flashes of shiny blue, Boba Bar, “Boba” the betta fish is not only beautiful, he is smart, curious and full of personality. The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) commonly known as the betta, is a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia. Bettas are known for their bright colors, long flowing…
Devon Barclay, 19, is studying to be a labor and delivery nurse at the University of Wyoming. Devon and brother, Brady (17), have both lived in the Turquoise Terrace neighborhood their entire lives. Devon grew up swimming, joining the Castle Pines Storm team when she was 6 years old, and staying with the team until…
Nine-year-old Graham Burns recognized a need and made a difference. After watching a video about people purchasing food for unhoused individuals, Graham thought about similar ways to be involved. With guidance from mom, Mindy, Graham found a way to help the homeless. Mindy went to JustServe.org to find a local way for Graham to help.…
Lisa Armao’s background in early childhood education includes more than 33 years as a Montessori-trained executive director. In 2018, she viewed an intergenerational programing documentary about a memory care home with an onsite preschool. She immediately knew bringing the old and young together was the calling for the rest of her life. The local nonprofit,…
Last month, the winners of the Cutest Pet in the Pines contest stopped by The Pet Stuff Place in the Village Shops to pick up their prizes. Otis, the first-place winner, arrived to claim his basket and gift certificate with his family, Steve and Jake Armstrong, who grabbed Otis’s prize the day before his one-year…
As Colorado marks its 150th anniversary, few musical artists feel as inseparable from the state’s spirit as John (Deutschendorf) Denver––whose stage name was inspired by the capital of his favorite state. Tribute bands all over the world have shared Denver’s music since his untimely death in 1997, and Cherokee Ranch & Castle (CR&C) recently hosted…
In recognition of 2026 marking 150 years of Colorado statehood, this segment will highlight the state’s many official emblems and symbols in a multipart series. This month looks at Colorado’s name and nickname, state motto, seal, flag, tartan, folk dance, songs, and summer and winter sports. Colorado’s name comes from the Spanish for “colored red.”…
This 4th of July will be different. Off the charts. Americans will come together, setting daily routines aside to whoop it up in a semi-quincentennial gala to contemplate 250 years of achievements (and struggles) since our nation’s founding. It will be an epic celebration. Beginning here, with this month’s pages and continuing in the four…
If you need help, there is hope. That is the essence of the Help & Hope Center (H&H), which serves Douglas and Elbert counties. Visiting the nonprofit, you will find food, clothing, emergency financial help and other resources you and your family might need during financial crisis or challenging times. H&H is home to client…