Read the stories from the latest issue:
By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Jen Murdock-Jacoway Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) school recently inducted 26 students into the National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS). This is the inaugural year for BRE to participate in NEHS. Like its counterpart for older students, NEHS membership is based on a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher.…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Erin Dill Each year on March 2, schools around the nation participate in Read Across America. It is a holiday that celebrates the birth of Theodor Seuss Geisel, perhaps better known as Dr. Seuss. During the 1990s, the National Education Association advocated for a day to celebrate reading…
Submitted by Marabelle Cecil, student writer; photo courtesy of Zengfa Gao Led by Rock Canyon High School student David Gao, the Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) Science Bowl team placed third in regionals for the second year. Team members Katie Dupper, Annie Gao, Taylor Kurtic, Cindy Zhang, and Marabelle Cecil are all eighth grade students.…
By Zachary Lipfield, student writer; photos courtesy of Kira Zizzo Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) held a Unified Sports basketball game in January between the RCHS Jaguars and the Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) Nighthawks. Nearly 2,000 spectators packed the stands. After every bucket, the crowd roared, bringing smiles to the faces of every player…
By Kathy Fallert On April 1, the 2020 United States Census will begin. Every household in the U.S. will be asked to answer a short series of questions that will influence policy making and planning for the next decade. Your participation will determine how the federal government makes its spending decisions. That’s right; the census…
There has been much discussion surrounding the potential dissolution and/or reorganization of the Castle Pines North Master Association. A Board of Directors meeting will be held on Monday, March 2 at 6 p.m. at the Castle Pines North Metro District building, located at 7404 Yorkshire Drive in Castle Pines. The Board will provide an update…
By Bryan Goodland; graphic by Tim Gamble Following a public hearing, the City of Castle Pines successfully passed Ordinance No. 20-01, which rezoned the area known as planned area 12 (PA12) to allow for attached single-family residential dwelling units. PA12 is located on roughly 20 acres of land about a half-mile northwest of the Happy…
By Kathy Fallert Have you ever avoided political conversations with friends or family? Most of us have. Disparity in political views can bring out the worst in people and the polarization between political parties has been gaining momentum for years. This is exactly the reason the Better Angels organization formed and is offering workshops to…
Submitted by the Castle Rock Police Department It is with heavy hearts that the Castle Rock Police Department (CRPD) said goodbye to a partner and friend, K-9 Officer Ronin. Ronin started with the Castle Rock Police Department on August 4, 2014 with his partner, veteran Officer Todd Thompson. Ronin had a huge impact on…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard The 18th Judicial District is now taking applications for its upcoming Spring Citizens Academy. The seven-week course looks at the role of various members of the District Attorney’s (DA) office. Students will explore the different functions of the specialized units in the DA’s office including the Special Victims Unit, Economic Crimes…
Growing up Rosacci style By Kathy Fallert; photo by Terri Wiebold and courtesy of the Rosacci family Daniel Rosacci, the 55-year-old CEO and president of Tony’s Meats & Market (Tony’s), has had only one job in his entire life. Starting as a 13-year-old seventh grader at Isaac Newton Junior High School in…
By Shawn Kernahan; photo by Terri Wiebold The Singh family has been in the restaurant business for more than 30 years. Rick Singh moved from India to the United States after traveling the world. In 1987, he opened the Indian restaurant, Delhi Darbar in Denver and traveled back to India to marry Ruby before the…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos by Lynn Zahorik Staff from the City of Castle Pines joined forces with The Castle Pines Connection for a team-building event hosted by the South Metro Safety Foundation. The two groups recently attended a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillators (AED) training class and bonded in the process. As a…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo by Lynn Zahorik After inspiring, encouraging and supporting opportunities in the arts and sciences as well as other cultural activities throughout the Castle Pines community, the Castle Pines Arts and Cultural Foundation (CPACF) board of directors decided to dissolve the foundation. “In the past 11 years, there has been much…
Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner Years ago, I was a stamp collector; still am, I guess. A philatelist if I wished to impress someone. The hobby has done many things for me. It has taken me around the world geographically, taught me history of the United States and helped me appreciate my country and…
Thoroughly Modern Manners – Ask Mrs. Abramovitz Mrs. Abramovitz, Would you please talk to us about grocery cart etiquette? – L.Z. I am so glad you asked! Let’s start with: stay to your right, tuck out of the way, and always return your cart. Grocery store maneuvering is much the same as driving. So, stay…
By Terri Wiebold A vibrant sense of community is one of the characteristics 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…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of nytimes.com There are many opinions about the Barbie doll, but six decades after her invention by Ruth Handler, co-founder of toy manufacturer Mattel, she’s still the number one fashion doll in the United States. According to Mattel, 90% of American girls own at least one Barbie before age 11.…
Article and photos by Shaun Kernahan Twenty children’s museums were nominated for the top 10 best children’s museums in the country, according to USA Today’s 10Best list. The Children’s Museum Denver at Marsico Campus, at press time, was ranked eighth and in good shape to finish in the top 10. As the father of a…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of Carol Oliver Lyons Long before Little Orphan Annie appeared in American cartoons in 1924, comparable hardship stories like hers played out daily in the American west. Such was the early life of Elizabeth “Lizzie” Field and her family, originally from Wesleyville, Pennsylvania. As an 11-year-old, Lizzie came inauspiciously into…
By Stacie Chadwick On any given day, people all over the world do extraordinary things. Halfway through my journey on this Earth, my question is…why? When I was 39, my fast-approaching “big 4-0” loomed large, hovering over me like a lingering cough. There was nothing about aging up into a new decade that I looked…
By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Jacqueline Landry March 1 is National Pig Day, celebrating domesticated pigs with pig parties and pig parades. But how about a pig as a pet? Although some people would never consider sharing their home with a pig, potbellied pigs can be quite charming and affectionate characters. A pig’s…
By Celeste McNeil; courtesy photos Short organized a beautification project for the schoolyard, including planting shade trees near the field. Coudeyras’ project involved renovating and rearranging the amphitheater benches, including construction of some new benches and rehabilitating multiple benches along some of the Ranch’s upper trails. McNeil painted and refreshed the stage area at the…
By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Corin Meibos Local Boy Scout Troop 365 was busy in 2019. Boys in the troop earned 12 Eagle Scout ranks in 12 months. Eagle Scout rank is the highest level a Boy Scout can earn through Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The achievement requires countless hours of dedication, completion…
Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner In 2005, my wife and I discovered this diamond in the rough. Rough, as Slovenia was still drying out from the oppressive former Communist rule of President Josip Broz Tito and transitioning to a managed capitalist economy. Slovenia among the Balkan states, was ready for the free world, stoking…
By Bryan Goodland At some point everyone has to come to terms with aging relatives. Are you prepared to take on the care for an aging parent, grandparent or relative? Where do you go for help? There are a myriad of choices when it comes to elder care. You can choose home care, retirement living,…
By Avery Bjorklund, student writer; photos courtesy of Liz Bjorklund Festively-dressed Girl Scouts helped make the holidays extra special for seniors at Legacy Village of Castle Pines by delivering homemade walker aprons and baked goods to 20 residents in the memory care unit. Over the past year, Alex Jacot, Katie Cotton and Avery Bjorklund –…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo courtesy of Steve Blatt Numerous studies show that introducing music into the lives of children is beneficial. From improving IQ levels to increasing happiness, music in countless ways enhances one’s life. For many that love of music begins when picking up an instrument in a school band or orchestra. Steve…
The Food Lab
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett I have an aspirational collection of cookbooks. Sure, the internet is a virtually limitless source of ideas and inspiration for what I might do next in my kitchen, but there’s something delightful about paging through a cookbook, especially one filled with exotic ingredients and luscious photography. My friends and…
By Steve Whitlock; photo courtesy of Jason Anguiano Jason Anguiano and Gina Anguiano are multi-generation Colorado natives – both born and raised in the inner city of Denver. They grew up with needs of various kinds and now appreciate how vital it was to receive support from others who stepped into their lives. Without their…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Shannon Jensen Hard work, dedication and tenacity are more than mere adjectives; they have shaped the life of Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) Detective Shannon Jensen. Jensen has consistently pushed herself to never give up. Growing up in Southern California, Jensen stayed close to home after high school, attending…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo courtesy of Harry Abramovitz Creativity can be expressed in a myriad of ways. If lucky, creating can also become a viable option for a career. Harry Abramovitz has discovered his path for a creative career with the training programs offered at Teaching the Autism Community Trades (TACT). As far back…
By Carin Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of the RCHS cheer program Rock Canyon High School’s varsity cheer team finished fourth in the nation and the school’s junior varsity cheer team finished fifth at the National High School Cheerleading Championship held in Orlando, Florida. The team made history as the first RCHS team to make it straight…
By Carin Kirkegaard; photo courtesy of Meredith Love The Rock Canyon poms team made program history with their best finish at the 2020 National Dance Team Championship in Orlando, Florida. The team placed third and earned two bronze medals in both the Medium Varsity Pom and Large Game-Day Pom divisions. In addition, the team had…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos February 5 was National Signing Day, when high school student-athletes all over the country sign letters of intent to play their sport at the collegiate level. We commend all the student-athletes and congratulate the following 80108 student-athletes as they celebrate their hard work and look ahead to their futures: DOUGLAS…
By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of the Village Idiots Cycling Club The Village Idiots Cycling Club is growing and welcoming new members. They have several meet and greets planned in the coming weeks to get to know prospective members better. The annual membership meeting will be on Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m. at MiYO…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of the Jackson family Annually, the Foundation for Douglas County Schools along with the Douglas County School District selects the top female student athletes from across the district to be honored at the National Girls and Women in Sports Day luncheon. Mia Jackson (pictured left) was among the five…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard The Douglas County School District (DCSD) is currently evaluating student enrollment throughout the district, including school capacity, enrollment numbers and attendance boundaries for all DCSD schools. Scenarios for possible changes in the future will be presented at a Board of Education (BOE) meeting on March 10. “We have pockets in our…
By Uma Kotwal, student writer; courtesy photos Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) gathered its top spelling participants on stage for the annual Douglas County School District Spelling Bee. In total, 27 students participated in the initial round with the top three spellers moving on to the district spelling bee. It took 10 rounds to eliminate…
By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of Jerome Price Six committed Rocky Canyon High School (RCHS) special education assistants raced headlong – maybe tip-toed – into freezing cold slush for the Polar Plunge at Aurora Reservoir in support of Special Olympics Colorado. The 2020 Unified Canyon team, led by Coach Jerome Price, included first-time plungers Kristin…
Learning life lessons By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori Wer gu yaram; or rather, cheers to good health. This is a common phrase used in Wolof, a Niger-Congo language spoken mainly in the Republic of Senegal. As part of DCS Montessori’s Human Differences month, students were treated to a special African cultural assembly. Designed to…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of American Academy Fifth graders from American Academy (AA) – Castle Pines campus took part in a community service project, creating bundles of joy to support students attending Douglas County School District’s alternative high school, Eagle Academy (EA). AA students filled 150 gift bags with donated goodies like goldfish crackers,…
By Jana Seal, RCHS intern writer; photos courtesy of Heidi Wing In February, the Rock Canyon Community Alliance (RCCA) fundraised for the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) annual After Prom event and also for classroom grants. The rock-themed date night event for RCHS community parents and faculty called Rock the Night Away was held at…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Timber Trail Elementary Timber Trail Elementary Timber Team had all kinds of fun on their minds when the student leadership group coordinated a game day with the residents of Legacy Village of Castle Pines. Members of Timber Team joined residents of Legacy Village for a fun interactive game of…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Tim Ryckman The annual third grade show at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) had a special treat for those attending the show this year. Art teacher Tim Ryckman led the third graders in a unique art project to accompany their show – they collectively designed and painted a wall mural…
By Claire Bauer, student writer; photos courtesy of Deanna Thaler The bond between those on a sports or club team is strong. You are there for each other through thick and thin. You support each other. You lift each other up. It’s no different in a choir. Studies have shown that choral singing can help…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori In 2019, Diana Visser’s DCS Montessori (DCSM) sixth grade class wrote letters of thanks to the Colorado Air National Guard (CO ANG) 140th wing stationed at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora. The 120th Fighter Squadron, a unit of the CO ANG 140th wing, was deployed to…
Article and photo by Maddy Merritt, RCHS intern writer Seniors at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) Matt Mejia, Sage Wheeler and Nick Quam started a club called the Rock Canyon Broadcasting Network (RCBN) when they were sophomores. The three started and ran a similar program when they were students at Rocky Heights Middle School. “Due…
By Julie Matuszewski: photos courtesy of Gina Luber and Linda Johnston Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) daughters and dads dressed the part for the annual Daddy Daughter Dance held in February. The school’s halls and gym transformed into the biggest fiesta with Latin-inspired decorations and traditional beats that brought TTE daughters and dads out on the…
by Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Timber Trail Elementary Timber Trail Elementary partnered with the American Heart Association (AHA) in February for Heart Month. The AHA’s mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Each year, students participate in the American Heart Challenge, which not only gets students dancing,…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Bianca McCarty Photography Maybe you think about your overall health, but do you think about your blood vessel health? As a vascular surgeon, Dr. Colleen Hupp wants to raise awareness about cardiovascular health. Hupp specializes in peripheral vascular disease (PVD), a blood circulation disorder that causes the blood vessels…
By Elizabeth Wood West The 2020 general election in November is 10 months away, but there are many other important elections this year and they start as early as the first week of March. Colorado Presidential Primary Colorado’s presidential primary election is Tuesday, March 3. This is the day that Colorado and several other states…
By Steve Whitlock; photos by Terri Wiebold When Gresh launched the Castle Pines Municipal Court in 2010, there was no computer system. As a result, shoe boxes were first used to file documents, including infractions and parking tickets. Gresh calls those the “horse and buggy” days. Today, the court is noticeably different, with recent examples…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo courtesy of Kevin Rants Kevin Rants, the City of Castle Pines newest councilmember, was sworn into his new role representing District 2 at the City’s council meeting in January. Three main areas Rants intends to focus on during his tenure are: Ensuring a clear, transparent and accountable government; ensuring long-term…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard How many times has the phone number of an incoming phone call looked suspiciously familiar? Maybe the prefix is the same as yours, or maybe it is even exactly the same number as your spouse’s phone number. When you answer though, it is a telemarketer. This tactic is called “spoofing,” and…
The next Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, February 24. There will be a presentation on the Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater Rate Study, as well as the associated findings and underlying rationale for proposing cost-of-service rate/fee increases for the remainder of 2020. Immediately following the…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos by Terri Wiebold History is a tricky thing; it happens whether we are paying attention or not. But what a gift it is to be able to look back and trace the steps that led to today. The Castle Pines Connection is happy to have found its place in history…
Motorists traveling north and south along U.S. Highway 85 between Louviers and Sedalia will see the 2.5-mile, two-lane stretch of roadway reconstructed and widened to a four-lane, divided highway. This, thanks to County voter-approval of Ballot Issue 1A last November and a new cost-sharing intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Douglas…
By Terri Wiebold For many, Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to show those you love or care about a little extra affection and attention. In a romantic relationship, that might mean flowers, chocolates, dinner out or maybe even a Hallmark card. But what about a business relationship? Aren’t the things that build meaningful personal relationships…
Football and hot wings: A family tradition Article and photos by Shaun Kernahan; photos courtesy of the Ulrich family Lincoln is not only Nebraska’s capital city, on Saturdays in the fall it is flooded with a sea of red as all eyes turn to watch the University of Nebraska’s football team take the field. Nebraska…
Information provided by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce; photos by Terri Wiebold More than 150 business members and owners attended the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce annual members luncheon at Cielo at Castle Pines last month, making it the Chamber’s highest attended luncheon to date. The afternoon event included a farewell presentation for outgoing…
Article and photos by Terri Wiebold A mere two short months following the closing of Dazbog Coffee in the King Soopers shopping center of Castle Pines, the rich aroma of coffee will waft out the doors of 7298 Lagae Road once again. Ziggi’s Coffee opened in 2004 as a small coffee shop on the corner…
A wealth of Colorado heritage caught on camera By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Julie Lamb The National Western Stock Show (NWSS) has been promoting American agriculture and Colorado’s rich western heritage since 1906. For local photographer Julie Lamb, it is one of her favorite events to capture behind the lens. “Can you believe…
Thoroughly Modern Manners – Ask Mrs. Abramovitz Dear Reader, Let’s talk about some of the manners around being a great party hostess and an awesome party guest. If etiquette is the road surface and manners are the rules of the road, let’s talk about which lane to get in. One of the rules I’m most…
By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Johnna DeBella Forty-eight years ago before book clubs were in vogue, a group of avid women readers banded together for the love of reading and discussing books – all kinds of books. The nine ladies are still going strong, and while some of the members have come and gone,…
Be in the Know – Discovering what’s hip, what’s hot and what’s happening NOW By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos by Taylor Wiebold The selfie has changed how we communicate with each other, and it is ubiquitous. The idea of taking a photo of yourself is not new, but where did the term selfie come from, and…
By Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos The stock market crashed on Black Friday in October 1929, ending the Roaring ‘20s. That day marked the beginning of the greatest economic downturn these United States have ever known. President Franklin Roosevelt sought ways for the federal government to stimulate the economy. One program was the Civilian Conservation Corps…
Making a difference By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of the DAR The Castle Rock Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is furthering its mission to, among other things, promote patriotism and preserve American history. At its membership meeting last month, the organization welcomed The Castle Pines Connection for a presentation and…