Read the stories from the latest issue:
By Chris Michlewicz; photo courtesy of WiesnerMedia For all of his achievements in the world of magazine publishing, Pat Wiesner considers his family to be the greatest success of his life. At the center of this success is his marriage to his wife of 61 years, Janet. They met at a party following a Notre…
By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Robin Scurto Resident in the Castle Pines community since 1996, Robin Scurto has been a truly involved citizen in the community over the years. Scurto, who loves where she lives commented, “I love the feeling of calm that washes over me each time I enter the neighborhood. It’s a…
The Village Castle Pines Garden Club held one of its popular wine in the garden events for members at the home of Gerry and Deni Schwartzel. These events typically occur once or twice a summer, and are complemented by other events during the year. Members were asked to bring a bottle of wine and an…
Article and photo by Nancy Koontz; photos courtesy of Lisa Berlin The Castle Pines Homes Association sponsored an adult social at Canyon Club pavilion on Saturday, July 24. Residents and their neighbors enjoyed a fun, carefree evening filled with Italian-style gourmet food, desserts, libations, lively conversation and music. The joy of being outdoors and sharing…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Emily Johnson Like any home, the dining room at Legacy Village is about socialization, connection and food. It’s where high school student servers and Legacy Village residents converse and connect. Legacy Village hires several teenagers to serve and assist residents in the dining room. Rock Canyon High School junior…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Mark Mithuen Sergeant Mark Mithuen loves working in Douglas County schools. His current position in the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is in the juvenile unit. Sergeant Mithuen oversees DCSO School Resource Officers (SRO) for the elementary, charter and other private schools contracted with DCSO. His duties also include…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Mamie Black and Mira Brand Summer swim team is a fun and exciting tradition in the community, and this year was no exception. Both neighborhood teams, Castle Crocs and The Village Stingrays were excited to be back in the water this summer. Crocs Board President Tracey Ray spoke for…
Heading into the 2021 season, the mens 55-plus tennis team for The Village at Castle Pines was a bit unsure of what to expect from the season. Longtime team captain, Jerry Eddy (age 82), had stepped down from the role, and Michael Shorts took over as captain of the 13-man team. Shorts could not speak…
Information provided by the National Safety Council; photo courtesy of Douglas County School District Traumatic as some parents find it to see their kids off to school, school buses are an exceptionally safe way to travel. According to the National Safety Council, school buses are the safest form of ground transportation in the United States.…
By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Tara Keesey Kathleen Keesey is one of two Colorado teens who qualified to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Keesey won the Lee-Ogle-Whiteside Regional Spelling Bee in Illinois in mid-February before the Keesey family relocated to Castle Pines in March. Despite moving states, Keesey was still able to…
By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of the Potter family Olivia Potter is 16 years old and a very busy Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) student and artist extraordinaire. Potter fell in love with art at very young age, and when she attended elementary school at American Academy, that love grew deeper – eventually joining the…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Mira Brand The American Academy (AA) summer musical theater camp brought life to Dr. Seuss’s favorite characters Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and more in a fantastic musical extravaganza Seussical KIDS, which was presented through special arrangements with Music Theatre International. Students rehearsed three weeks prior…
By Julie Matuszewski; courtesy photo Summer students of DCS Montessori (DCSM)tested their strength and flexibility on one of many day camps to local businesses. These steep climbing walls at ROCK’n & JAM’n in the DTC challenged the students to their fullest. Not only is rock climbing fun and an adrenaline rush, but it is also…
By Chris Michlewicz; courtesy photos Colorado has many unique claims to fame, most of which have to do with the majestic mountains and the adventures they bring. But the state is also home to some of the most mouthwatering produce in the country. A midsummer visit to a farmers market – either on the Western…
By Chris Michlewicz; graphic by Tim Gamble Multiple construction projects intended to improve safety and traffic flow on U.S. 85 are underway. Construction continues on a road widening project between Sedalia and Louviers, where crews are paving future northbound lanes before reconstructing the southbound lanes through the summer. Douglas County is still awaiting the delivery…
By Chris Michlewicz; photo by Bob Wiebold The summer of 2021 is shaping up to be a busy one as construction activity picks up along the Lagae Road corridor in the City of Castle Pines. Construction equipment has been used to grade the land on the southwest corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Lagae Road,…
Information and photos provided by Castle Pines North Metro District After two postponed events due to spring snow storms, the Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD) held its quarterly neighborhood clean-up on a banner blue-sky day in early June. Sixty-seven residents representing neighborhoods throughout Castle Pines came together to pick up trash in the community’s…
By Chris Michlewicz; photos by Tim Gamble The creation of the Castle Pines Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has set into motion plans to enhance recreational opportunities across the City. The advisory board to City Council was formed in February and its members are already identifying areas where changes can be made. Castle Pines being…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; courtesy photos More than 60 new neighbors gathered at The Exchange Coffee House on the east side of the City of Castle Pines to meet new neighbors, socialize and learn more about the community. Mayor Tera Radloff provided opening remarks for the evening before turning it over to the event coordinators,…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo by Chris Michlewicz and courtesy of Julie Lamb With plenty of precipitation across the Front Range, the area open spaces, hiking trails and paths have been lush with wildflowers and abundant green foliage – all of which contribute to Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) having not issued any fire restrictions…
Information and photo provided by Douglas County In 2020, there was a 29% increase of use along the more than 100 miles of trails throughout Douglas County Open Space properties. Visitors enjoying these outdoor spaces now have more available access to open space rangers that patrol the trails located throughout the County. Through a partnership…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard City of Castle Pines residents can now find specific neighborhood homeowners association (HOA) information through the Castle Pines HOA Lookup found on the City’s website. Anyone looking to find out how to replace a lost key to the community pool or how to rent the local clubhouse for a graduation party,…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard When emergencies happen, communicating fast, reliable information can be vital in saving lives, solving crimes and mitigating damage. Residents in Douglas County can register for CodeRED alerts from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and all other Douglas County agencies. This system allows for mass notifications to areas where emergencies are occurring.…
Information provided by Waste Management Recycling can make a difference for our community, our environment and our future. Last year, Coloradans recycled 219,117 tons of materials with Waste Management. Recycling these materials saved 2.6 million trees, 918 million gallons of water and 375 million kWh of electricity. Recycling recovers materials for reuse in manufacturing rather…
Information and photo provided by Castle Rock Fire and Rescue; photos by Patte Smith; courtesy photo Castle Rock’s bravest were recognized recently for their outstanding work during the pandemic. Fire Chief Norris W. Croom III presented the department-wide Meritorious Service Award at a ceremony held in early June. Numerous other awards were presented to Castle…
By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of Dan Notartomaso Duke’s Steakhouse has found itself a new neighbor. Nestled between the well-known Douglas County restaurant and other vibrant Castle Pines businesses located in the Village Square shopping plaza, Oak and Iron Design Co. is a place like no other. It is a design showroom that provides customers…
A family business By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of the Coufal family Physical therapy student at the University of New Mexico (UNM), Ryan Coufal, got more than he bargained for as a college student. Originally from Durango, Colorado, Ryan got his undergraduate and doctoral degrees from UNM in physical therapy and muscle activation techniques (PTMAT),…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Andrew Nicklanovich Just west of downtown Denver is Sloan’s Lake Park, which covers 290 acres of water and green space. In addition to boating and fishing on the lake, the surrounding park offers hiking and biking trails, sports fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, picnic areas and multiple playgrounds. In…
Article and photos by Nancy Koontz More than 700 people celebrated the summer solstice and kicked off summer in The Village at Castle Pines. Neighbors joined together Saturday, June 19 at Canyon Club for an old-fashioned pig roast and the best peach and apple cobbler around. There were fun summer games, a limbo contest and…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Sandy Pearce and Kathleen Bryant Comanche is a beautiful 16-year-old Georgian Grande, a horse breed known for being friendly, intelligent, easy to train and good with amateur riders. Some would consider Comanche to be a pasture accident, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. He is a cross…
By Nancy Koontz; courtesy photos The residents of The Village at Castle Pines Starbuck community held the annual Dash to Dine Memorial Celebration honoring those who have served our country in the military. Attendees gathered together, bringing brunch items to share and their walking shoes to participate in the Dash. Many thanks to the Starbuck…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Sloane Marshall Like all rooms in a home, bathrooms get outdated. For those living in houses built in the early 2000s, many bathrooms included features such as large, frameless mirrors, dark marble or an all-white color scheme, bold motifs on bathroom tiles, jetted corner tubs, carpet, shiny brass fixtures…
Article and photo by Hollen Wheeler The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl went hand in glove, and these tragic years are still considered one of America’s most arduous periods. After the Wall Street Crash of 1929, financial hardship fell across the nation and then nature turned on the agricultural and prairie states. Drought and…
Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner In late March, to retain our sanity in a COVID-obsessed world, my wife and I lit out for the Florida Panhandle. We flew to New Orleans, drove four hours through Mississippi and Alabama, and entered the western edge of the state in Pensacola. Our only disappointment was our inability…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of the DCL archives and Local History Section Unlike both his father and brother, Mort Penley was not a man of the cloth. The beauty of the English Cotswolds could also not hold him. In 1878, his 20th year, he sought new horizons. Crossing the Atlantic on the steam vessel…
Article and photos by Hollen Wheeler In the heart of downtown Denver, with a Capitol view from the terrace, sits a beautifully restored Victorian mansion, “The Molly Brown House Museum.” It’s the former residence of a trailblazer and Titanic survivor known posthumously as “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.” Renovated and maintained by Historic Denver for 50…
Foundation honors boys’ legacy, love of baseball By Chris Michlewicz; photos courtesy of Gameday Baseball More than 20 years after a tragic accident took the lives of two young brothers from Parker, a foundation that honors their memory and love for baseball is still going strong. The Double Angel Foundation was named for Logan and…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; courtesy photos The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce held its 9th annual Food Truck Frenzy at Coyote Ridge Park in the City of Castle Pines. More than 2,000 people descended on the park, with cars lined up all the way back to Monarch Boulevard. Community members with kids and dogs in…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Brats on the grill are practically synonymous with summer, particularly the celebrations that take place in July. A quick trip to Tony’s for whatever is fresh and tasty from the butcher and the deli, some drinks in the cooler, a few pints of ice cream and cones, and you’re…
Reprinted from July 2016 issue As you go outside this summer for a hike, bike ride or even a stroll in your yard, be aware that rattlesnakes may be in the vicinity. The western rattlesnake (pictured above) and massasauga rattlesnake are the only two venomous snakes among the 25 species of snakes in Colorado. The…
Information provided by the Douglas County Assessor’s Office; courtesy photo Douglas County qualifying seniors have until July 15 to apply for the Senior Property Tax Exemption. Taxpayers 65 years and older as of January 1 and surviving spouses of seniors who previously qualified, who have owned and occupied a property as their primary residence for…
Information provided by the Castle Rock Senior Activity Center The Castle Rock Senior Activity Center (CRSAC) is ramping up in-person activities and the center needs volunteers. There are opportunities in transportation, Meals on Wheels and Volunteers of America (VOA) hot meal program. Transportation volunteers will drive seniors to various medical facilities and businesses within Castle…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Renee Newfield Parlor games like bunco, bridge, canasta, euchre, pinochle and mahjong have all been catalysts, with waning and waxing popularity through the years, to get a neighborhood social group together. Neighbors gather, of course to play the game, but perhaps more importantly, to meet people, indulge in…
Art inspiring change Article and photo by Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of Annie Wardle “Thread Through Time” was a solo art show held at the Daniels Gate Clubhouse featuring the brilliant works of local artist Amanda May Foltz. Guests traveled the world through Foltz’s unique special fiber art installations that represented many of her favorite…
By Nancy Koontz; courtesy photos Making it look easy, devoted parents and physicians Michael and Laura Rosenberg are balancing life in 2021 with a can-do confident attitude. With their busy schedules, the Rosenbergs find following their very full calendar a must. Their daughter, Reese, just finished Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) and will attend Rocky Heights…
Article and photos by Chris Michlewicz Mike Gentile’s lifelong entrepreneurial spirit has brought him to the place he loves the most – the great outdoors with his family. Gentile, a Castle Pines resident since 2014 and owner of an adventure gear outfitter called The Spirit of 1876, started his first business washing cars when he…
help our children grow into respectful individuals Dear Readers, Summer is officially upon us and what a great time to work on manners with the kids. Parents today face a new frontier in etiquette, everything from table manners to what is social media appropriate. Manners do begin at home, and learning the rules of engagement…
Article and photo by Hollen Wheeler; photo courtesy of Kelly Duman The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) baseball program has stellar new facilities, outstanding teams (the varsity finished sixteenth in the state this season) and a coach who is hitting home runs. When varsity Coach Allan Dyer was hired in 2019, he saw potential for…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Catherine Bess Photography Castle Pines Athletics NFL Flag Football program brought enthusiastic athletes to the field for the spring session. Mild temperatures kept the games alive all season allowing for one weekly practice and game. The spring season included seven games with the older division Browns (ages 9 to…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photo Before a Broncos game, the players always have assisted stretching sessions with trainers. Assisted stretching is crucial for professional athletes because it can increase range of motion and flexibility, improve fitness performance and posture, and prevent injury. For those who are not professional athletes, assisted stretching can help provide more…
Article and photo by Lisa Nicklanovich Demand for clean beauty products is on the rise. Since skin absorbs up to 60% of what is applied to the surface, concerned consumers are reading labels and paying more attention to what is in the skin products purchased and if they are safe. Skincare users are also looking…
By Claire Bauer, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photo After a long wait, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) girls soccer teams were finally able to start their season. As a part of Colorado High School Activities Association’s (CHSAA) Season D, the final high school sports season of the 2020-2021 school year, tryouts took place in late…
By Celeste McNeil In late 2018, Douglas County residents voted to pass 5B which directly led to the Douglas County School District (DCSD) selling $250 million in general obligation bonds. The monies generated by these bonds are integral to the DCSD Master Capital Plan, created in 2019 and projected to be finished in 2024. The…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Andy Abner and DCSD Andy Abner recently announced he is leaving the principal post at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) for a deputy superintendent position in the Douglas County School District (DCSD). Abner has been with DCSD for 19 years and looks forward to many more. Abner recognized his…
Information and graphic provided by Douglas County For Colorado property owners, 2021 is a reappraisal year. A Notice of Valuation (NOV) is designed to explain the assessment of a property in detail, and Douglas County mailed NOVs to property owners, reflecting residential and commercial property values as of June 30, 2020. Colorado law requires assessors…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo courtesy of the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Since 1963, the United States Small Business Administration has taken the first week of May to recognize the contributions of entrepreneurs and small businesses. The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce celebrated the week with daily events and by honoring members who have…
A father and son endeavor By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Derek Blaha Father and son Joe and Derek Blaha have been involved in various aspects of the laundry and dry cleaning industry for more than 30 years in Colorado. Joe is still employed by the original company that built and managed Castle Pines GreenEarth…
Article and photos by Hollen Wheeler About 30 minutes from the Castle Pines community is Denver’s hot new “innovation district,” the Dairy Block. Located in the heart of lower downtown (LoDo, as it’s commonly known) and walking distance from Union Station and Coors Field, the Dairy Block has something for everyone. Nestled between Wazee and…
Dads celebrated for year-round contributions By Chris Michlewicz; photos courtesy of Dads of Castle Rock A grassroots group of philanthropic Castle Rock dads is being celebrated on more than just Father’s Day for its well-earned reputation for making a difference in the community. The Dads of Castle Rock (DoCR), a community outreach organization with a…
By Chris Michlewicz; photos courtesy of Nate Winegar When Nate Winegar moved to the east side of Castle Pines last summer, he found exactly what he was hoping for – peace and quiet and a star-filled night sky. He also found a collection of friendly neighbors who he invites to hang out in his furnished…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Chad Creamer Oliver is not a common name for a cat, but is the perfect name for a most uncommon cat. Oliver, aka Ollie, is an 8-month-old Flame Point Himalayan Persian. Originally from Canon City, Ollie is now a permanent resident of the Castle Pines community. Although Ollie has…
By Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos This tale of two towns begins with Junietta Patience Freelove Peckham and Orello E. Frink (O.E.), who were married in DeRuyter, New York in 1877. Both driven and bold, they went west with their three children, making Denver home. O.E. succeeded early in meat retailing and milk processing. In 1893,…
By Chris Michlewicz; photo by Bob Wiebold One of the final residential pieces of The Village at Castle Pines is taking shape. Perched at an elevated position that will give future residents breathtaking views of rolling hills, mountain peaks of all sizes and bright blue Colorado skies, The Summit comprises 60 semi-custom detached homes on…
By Chris Michlewicz Now that voters have overwhelmingly approved the inclusion of the Castle Pines North Metro District’s (CPNMD) water and wastewater utilities with those of the Parker Water & Sanitation District (PWSD), elected leaders are setting their sights on next steps. CPNMD Board President David McEntire said he was pleasantly surprised by the strong…
Information and photo provided by Douglas County Douglas County Office of Veterans Affairs recently received a $10,000 state grant providing emergency assistance to veterans struggling with housing (mortgage and rent payments), transportation, employment, healthcare and other immediate needs. “Our goal with these grant dollars is to help our veterans bridge the gap during an emergency,…
By Patte Smith The outdoors beckons to everyone, especially this year. Open-air events are at the top of the list, so gather the clan, friends, picnic basket, lawn chairs, blankets and be sure to have gas in the car; it’s time to get out and enjoy all that Colorado’s great outdoors has to offer. Close…
Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark,” so said Marcellus in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. He was definitely wrong. The fact is, Denmark is so sublime, it may indeed be the happiest place on the planet. Actually, Denmark was rated as one of the top three happiest places…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; courtesy photos From a pool of more than 100 qualified candidates, the City of Castle Pines hired Hannah Button as the City’s new communications and engagement manager. With a background in communications and marketing for municipalities, Button is ready to dive into community engagement strategies, working to improve communication efforts for…
Dear Readers, As we come out of the lockdown, we emerge different. Etiquette involves remembering there are other people in the world. Etiquette columnist Catherine Newman says the definition of etiquette is derived from French culture and means “little ethics” which is exactly why the practice is more significant than ever. Newman states, “Etiquette is…