Read the stories from the latest issue:
By Shaun Kernahan; courtesy photos A Memorial Day weekend staple in the state of Colorado since 1979, BolderBoulder began with around 2,700 participants. By 2004, it had become the world’s largest timed 10K with more than 47,450 participants – and has grown ever since. This year, as a result of the ongoing pandemic, the event…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Christina Leone Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) poms dance team recently won the 5A State Championship, bringing the first poms state title to RCHS since 2009. It is the first schoolwide state title since 2016. Poms, a school spirit squad focused on dance, serves an important role within the…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photo Like the popularity of charcuterie boards and sourdough bread, tinned fish is having its moment. For pescatarians or anyone who enjoys seafood, tinned fish is a satisfying pantry staple and provides variety from fresh or frozen seafood. While some may have grown up enjoying sardines and oysters from a can,…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Paul Brannberg and Lisa Hutchinson By nature, human beings are social. Relationships with others help individuals survive and thrive. Staying socially connected can increase longevity, improve immune function and cardiac health. While physical distancing is still important during COVID-19, maintaining social connections is just as important. Grateful for their…
By Celeste McNeil; courtesy photos Creative problem solving has become the new normal. The Douglas County School District (DCSD) art show committee applied creativity to the annual art show to safely display the best artwork from all the district schools, kindergarten through 12th grade. Traditionally, the district art show has been on display for a…
By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of Ilana Bove The Help & Hope Center provides a warm, calm place for families in crisis to shop for food and necessities. With the help of community donations and volunteer support, the Help & Hope Center provides three meals a day plus a snack for each family member that…
CASTLE VIEW HIGH SCHOOL Jens Anderson Kianna Aviles Oliver Bolduc Tanner Bradley Olivia Briggs Yarely Chavez Castro John Colombi Dylan Cone Marissa Coney Evann Delgado Michael Edelmann Jazelle Edwards Ashlynn Farrell Madelynn Fougere Mariana Fraire Gutierrez Dayde Frankenfield Morgan Frieling Grace Gassmann Keyla Gholipoursani Brian Gonzalez Grace Hancock Valentina Hernandez Dylan Hettinger Zaydee Hyman Antoneo…
By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of Leana Kerr Hungary, a landlocked country in central Europe, is known for its big flavor cuisine. Kinderpunsch or “children’s punch” is an aromatic concoction of herbal tea, fruit juices and bold spices. During the Christmas holiday, this warm beverage serves just the right punch of flavor, making it a…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Ilana Bove Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) kicked off its annual bookmark competition celebrating Read Across America. All TTE students were invited to create and submit one finished bookmark. The bookmarks were rated on original design and were required to include the word “read.” Top bookmarks from each grade included…
By Claire Bauer, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photos Every year, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) partners with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to raise money in support of critically ill children and grant their “wishes” – things like going on trips, visiting Disney World, or even getting a pet. This year, the school chose to grant the…
By Celeste McNeil; courtesy photos Last month’s snowstorm officially took over the fourth place position in the record books; Colorado started keeping track of snow accumulation in 1881. Official snow totals are recorded at DIA, where this storm dumped 27.1 inches. Blizzard conditions with winds up to 35 miles per hour during much of the…
Information and graphic provided by Douglas County Douglas County residents behind in rent or utility payments due to COVID-19 financial impacts may be eligible for assistance through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Douglas County will distribute $8.4 million in direct assistance using funds received from the U.S. Treasury Department through the Coronavirus Response and Relief…
Information provided by the District Attorney’s Office This free, seven-week virtual academy will be held Tuesday and Thursday evenings, April 13 – May 27, 2021. Each class will explore the role of various members of the District Attorney’s Office in different parts of the criminal justice system. The academy will give participants an in-depth look…
Information and photo provided by the City of Castle Pines Wintertime is the time of potholes. While they cause concern for everyone traversing the roadways, they drive the City of Castle Pines Public Works Department crazy. It’s similar to playing a game of whack-a-mole; as soon one repair is complete, another pops up. Potholes can…
Article and photos by Chris Michlewicz A Sedalia-based company is using automated indoor farms to revolutionize how people worldwide can access a sustainable source of nutrient-rich food. Held inside 320-square-foot shipping containers, FarmBox Foods uses a specialized vertical hydroponic watering system and LED lighting to grow produce like organic leafy greens and culinary herbs with…
By Chris Michlewicz; photos courtesy of AR Workshop What do you get when you cross HGTV with those businesses that pair wine with painting? A new trend. The Front Range is the latest region to embrace do-it-yourself (DIY) studios that offer ordinary Janes and Joes the opportunity to create their own boutique-quality wooden signs, frames,…
Dana Jevarjian and the complexities of boutique management Her Linkedin profile says “Club Manager / Director of Lifestyle & Events at BlueStar Resort & Golf. However, that doesn’t seem to fully cover the many complexities of Dana Jevarjian, who is the manager of The Exchange Coffee + Conversation in The Canyons development on the east…
Caption and photo by Terri Wiebold Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce and community members joined for a fun ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand re-opening of Mainstream Boutique in The Village at Castle Pines shops. New owner Laura Ringgenberg said, “Thank you to everyone who came out to show their support. I have lived in…
Caption and photos by Julie Matuszewski CycleBar reopened its doors on March 12 with new owners, City of Castle Pines residents Chris and Lindsay Crosby (Lindsay pictured far right). Cyclists enjoyed a welcome back ride with instructor Mikaela Boillot (pictured left), as well as other scheduled classes over the opening weekend. With a wide range…
Article and photos by Chris Michlewicz A little-known pastime that started in Canadian backyards and Renaissance festivals has made its way to the Denver area in a big way. It’s hard not to notice the rise of axe throwing establishments in the region. There are at least eight businesses dedicated to the leisurely sport in…
Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik You might be surprised to learn that 97% of the species on earth are invertebrates. Animals without a backbone or bony skeleton, invertebrates range in size from microscopic mites to giant squid and can live on land or in water. There is a treasure of a zoo in Colorado…
volunteers help find them homes By Chris Michlewicz; photos courtesy of Jen O’Connor Massachusetts has the Boston terrier as its official state dog and Maryland has the Chesapeake Bay retriever. In Colorado, it’s simply the rescue dog – and there’s good reason for that. The state’s human population is made up mostly of transplants, so…
By Shaun Kernahan, courtesy photos In March, Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines hosted its first springtime storybook holiday event for kids and parents alike based on the Beatrix Potter classic, The Tale of Peter Rabbit. It included crafts, treats and a petting zoo featuring pigs, horses, donkeys and, of course, rabbits – along with…
By Chris Michlewicz Most of the problems associated with Colorado’s population growth are apparent, like traffic congestion. One not-so-obvious issue effects our beloved pets. The incidence of heartworm disease in dogs has increased in recent years as families and their canines move here from warmer climates where heartworm is more prevalent. Dogs arrive infected, and…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Kristi Calfee Carmel, a Holland Lop bunny hopped herself into the lives of the Calfee family four years ago. Castle Pines resident Kristi Calfee grew up with pet rabbits and is all too familiar with raising the fluffy friends. After a visit to the Denver Dumb Friends League, the…
By Lynn Zahorik; photos courtesy of Brooke Skaley With two little children to entertain, Brooke Skaley is always eager to get them outside to play. The Skaley family moved from Oklahoma to Castle Pines in July of last year. Since then, the lively family of four embark on outdoor adventures every chance they get. They…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard The first Earth Day was marked more than 50 years ago on April 22, 1970, and advocates from groups and organizations across the world have been rolling up their sleeves and doing the work to care for Mother Earth and her environment ever since. Locally, many schools, businesses, community groups and…
By Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos I smile at our Irish memories twice yearly, during lambing season in April and while remembering September oyster festivals. In spring, no one need ask why Ireland is called the Emerald Isle; the color green surely was invented there. Although Ireland’s history begins in ancient times, her allure is quite…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos “I didn’t know doors could make me so excited!” exclaimed resident Camille Pocock. The Pocock family had all 22 interior doors in their house replaced with a beveled Shaker-style door with aged bronze handles and hinges. “The doors are sturdier than the builder-grade doors, and I was surprised how it…
By Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos William Thompson Lambert was born in 1850 to devout Quakers Joseph and Cynthia (Meader) Lambert of Blackstrap, Maine. William was an only child, sickly at that, with bleeding lungs. His frail condition was likely the chief factor in the family’s migration west in 1856 for a drier climate. Muscatine, Iowa,…
Dear Reader, There is something we have to talk about – modern manners and cellphone usage. I’m sure we can all agree the cellphone is one of the world’s greatest inventions. But let’s take a minute to talk about how we use it in our everyday lives and how that usage can affect those around…
The 93rd Academy Awards, originally scheduled for February 28, will now take place Sunday, April 25. The awards show will honor movies released in 2020. This is the fourth time in Oscar history that the event has been postponed. The other postponed ceremonies followed the Los Angeles flooding in 1938, the assassination of Dr. Martin…
By Bryan Goodland; courtesy photos Just like the song in Disney’s classic movie Mary Poppins says, there’s nothing more satisfying then flying a kite on a beautiful day. There’s no better time to celebrate this quintessential spring pastime than on a breezy afternoon in April, which happens to be National Kite Month. Organized by the…
By Hollen Wheeler It’s the season of Lent and with Easter Sunday just around the corner, those who partake in this holy tradition will find their season of fasting, penitence and abstinence coming to an end. Part of the Christian calendar, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday lasting 40 days, culminating on Easter Sunday, which for…
By Lynn Zahorik; photos courtesy of Darwin Thompson and Nick Ainsworth With the return of spring, many Coloradans look forward to welcoming back the hummingbirds that flew south for the winter. These fascinating zippy little creatures start to command the attention of locals in mid-April. Four species of hummingbirds can be seen in Colorado. The…
By Chris Michlewicz; Photos courtesy of Eric Hurst, SMFR It’s a commonly held belief that a firefighter’s diet while on duty consists of foods like chili, hamburgers, spaghetti and pizza. The men and women at South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) are reshaping that perception. The department has overhauled its menu in recent years, favoring raw…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett I love magazines in much the same way I love to see old friends – they are filled with things I find interesting and they are always there for me when I need them. I like travel magazines, news magazines and craft magazines. Heck, one year I somehow ended…
Hitting the sweet spot By Chris Michlewicz During a trip to Florida, the Bertocchi family noticed something striking about the five ice cream and gelato establishments within a popular entertainment district in Sarasota: only one of them had a line around the block. Fast-forward a few years and the Bertocchis are the owners of a…
Article and photo by Chris Michlewicz The closure of fine-dining hotspot Racines last July was a loss for longtime customers and the Denver restaurant scene, but there’s always a silver lining. Residents in the Castle Pines community gained an experienced chef whose reputation preceded his arrival at MiYO Cafe, a popular breakfast and lunch eatery…
By Stacie Chadwick All a mother wants in life is for her child to be happy. It’s a subliminal need fueled by emotion. A primal instinct driven by that first, curious flutter in the womb. And it never goes away. My grandmother is no different from any other mother in this respect, even though her…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Brenda Bushey All adult Americans should be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination no later than May 1. Working with that deadline in mind, Colorado is currently vaccinating all people who fall under the categories outlined in Phase 1A and Phase 1B. These two phases include anyone age 50…
When resident Hiemi Haines emigrated to the United States from Korea with her family in 1976, she was a teenager, and learning English was hard. “I wasn’t able to speak English for about a year, so I learned to rely on people’s facial expressions,” Haines said. This ability to understand and communicate with people who…
By Steve Whitlock; photo courtesy of Meg Huber Meg Huber, who grew up in Castle Pines, is one of the newest interns with the Borgen Project, a nonprofit aiming to reduce global poverty through U.S. advocacy. It’s a great fit with her education ambitions, as she attends Southern Virginia University majoring in business management while…
By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of MacKenzie Boeckmann MacKenzie Boeckmann knew she wanted to be active in her community and be part of something that was bigger than herself. As a high school student, Boeckmann enjoyed all her math classes and loved explaining advanced math homework to her peers. She found this rewarding, to help…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Sarah Zales An introduction made on a walk during quarantine last year turned into a friendship that led Sarah Zales and Brooke Walters to co-chair the Forest Park social committee, a neighborhood located in the City of Castle Pines. Despite planning during a pandemic and the fact that both…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Chris Dudley Castle Pines resident Chris Dudley always knew he wanted to be a firefighter. “It was the easiest life choice I’ve ever made,” Dudley said about his decision to become a firefighter at 41 years young. He has been a firefighter at Castle Rock Fire Station 153 for…
By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of Sarah Swift An Etsy online business owner of unique custom-made cups, hoodies and more, Castle Pines resident Sarah Swift uses her online platform “Show Love Shop Local” to inspire others to support small businesses within Douglas County. Having recently been named Miss Douglas County’s Outstanding Teen, Sarah strives to…
By Hollen Wheeler; photo courtesy of Raptors Athletics “Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd,” repeat, repeat repeat. The life of a baseball mom can be a repeating loop, hundreds of trips to ballparks and even more to practice fields. Not to mention, there is potential for travel to…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos “More than a physical experience, it’s a mental one,” said resident Roger Hudson about floating in a sensory deprivation tank, also called an isolation tank, pod or pool. One thousand pounds of pharmaceutical-grade magnesium sulfate, commonly known as Epsom salt, is dissolved in a foot or less of skin-temperature water.…
Article and photo by Lisa Nicklanovich Is there a supplement that may improve skin health by reducing wrinkles and dryness … one that may help increase muscle mass, prevent bone loss and relieve joint pain? It’s no wonder collagen supplements fill many shelves in health food stores. Associated with a number of health benefits and…
Caption and photo by Hollen Wheeler Seventh grade boys practiced at Coyote Ridge Park, prepping for their end-of-season basketball tournament. The team represented the Rock Canyon Jaguars in the Gold Crown Foundation’s feeder program, an after-school sports initiative that prepares youth for high school sports. The boys played a total of 10 games from January…
By Celeste McNeil; courtesy photo National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) students at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) recently participated in the Thank Yous for Health Care Workers project. The eighth grade students made nearly 150 thank you cards to be delivered to health care workers at UCHealth. “The Thank Yous for Health Care Workers project…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard with information provided by Douglas County School District; courtesy photos Douglas County School District (DCSD) middle and high school students returned to full time, in-person learning last month following the District’s spring break. Castle Pines community students woke to their “first” day of school being snow-delayed for 90 minutes – a…
By Julie Matuszewski: photos courtesy of Chelsey Nielson Timber Tail Elementary (TTE) students have a passion for books and fun, which is what the Books and Battles competition was all about. Typically known as Battle of the Books, this year Douglas County Libraries (DCL) offered a modified online quiz show. This year’s event took on…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Erin Dill and American Academy Read Across America Day was created to encourage children to read and is celebrated by many on March 2 along with the birthday of Dr. Seuss – his 117th this year. American Academy first grade students held their own special celebration with a day…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of BRE Celebrating the 100th day of school has become an annual tradition in many elementary schools across the nation in the past dozen or so years. Castle Pines schools are no different. Typically, in February the youngest students celebrate this milestone with a day of curriculum and fun focused…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Lisa Hess and Wenda Wilson The library of Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) recently transformed its space into a unique marketplace for fellow first graders to shop multiple second grade student-run businesses. As a part of Project Based Learning (PBL), second grade teachers Lisa Hess and Wenda Wilson’s students became…
Information provided from DCS Montessori; photo courtesy of the Liepen family Douglas County Montessori (DCSM) fourth grader Matthew Liepen holds one of his favorite reads from the Books and Battles competition. “I enjoyed the competition the library organized,” commented Liepen. “The 13th Story Tree House was my favorite book in the battle. The whole series…
By Chris Michlewicz; photo and graphic courtesy of Castle Pines Metropolitan District Water and sewer customers in Castle Pines will soon decide whether to approve the proposed inclusion of the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) into the Parker Water & Sanitation District (PWSD). The neighboring entities first began discussing the subject of inclusion in…
By Chris Michlewicz; graphic by Tim Gamble Signs that Trader Joe’s is considering a new location in northern Douglas County have created a buzz in the community. Trader Joe’s, a specialty “fresh format” grocery store chain based in California, submitted a liquor license application with the Town of Parker (Town) for a proposed location northeast…
By Chris Michlewicz; rendering courtesy of DAWG Nation Hockey Foundation If all goes as planned, the City of Castle Pines will be home to a world-class ice arena by summer 2023. The proposal from DAWG Nation Hockey Foundation (DAWG Nation) is to build a multi-sheet hockey facility – purpose-built to support both disabled and able-bodied…
Information provided by Douglas County The Douglas County CSU Extension Advisory Council is accepting applications for all positions to fill its board. The mission of the advisory council is to provide information and education in addition to encouraging the application of research-based knowledge in response to local, state, and national issues. Council members serve as…
Simple pleasures and work Article and photo by Kathy Fallert Jack and Kay Yi stay very busy with dry cleaning and wet cleaning. The second owners of Castle Pines Cleaners, the Yis have been in business for 15 years. Both originally from South Korea, the couple met and married in Seattle 27 years ago. Kay’s…
Information provided by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce annual meeting and awards ceremony celebrated local businesses and individuals in a virtual event that included a pre-taped Academy Awards presentation that recognized these outstanding organizations and people in the community. The winners of the 2021 Castle Pines Chamber of…
By Terri Wiebold The Castle Pines Connection welcomes Hollen Wheeler and Steve Chezik to our team. Hollen joins The Connection as a writer. She and her family moved to Castle Pines from Texas in 2017. A 20-year veteran in politics and public affairs, Hollen worked on Capitol Hill before being politically appointed to a former…
Family-friendly amenities Article and photo by Chris Michlewicz A groundbreaking ceremony kicked off the much-anticipated expansion of The Country Club at Castle Pines (CCCP). Years in the making, the extensive, $17.1 million project officially began February 12 with shovels in the ground on a frigid but beautiful day, with about 30 club dignitaries, project leaders,…