Read the stories from the latest issue:
The history of a Hallmark holiday Reprinted in part from The Castle Pines Connection, Volume 5, Number 2 On February 14, people all across the world will take part in Valentine’s Day, a day predicated on the celebration of romantic love. This holiday is celebrated in the Americas, Europe and even parts of eastern Asia.…
Healing little hearts By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of J.C. Heinen New Year’s Day 1975, J.C. Heinen gave birth to her daughter Jessica Renee. Jessie was born premature with a congenital heart defect (CHD) called Tetralogy of Fallot. Her condition required Jessie to remain in the pediatric intensive care unit for the first 18…
Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner After touring Wellington last month, let’s ship out, on a 3.5 hour, $44 ferry ride, crossing Cook Strait to the South Island. The 12th largest island on Earth may also be its finest. If you are Maori, you’ll call it Te Waipounamu; if you are Hobbit, Middle-earth. After sampling…
The historic fires and subsequent devastation happening in Australia has left many wondering how they can help. The Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) has compiled a list of vetted and certified ways to give: GlobalGiving’s Australian Wildfire Relief Fund is a U.S. intermediary that can help channel donor advised funds or organizational donations to support…
By Kathy Fallert With February being National Pet Dental Health Month, it is wise to keep in mind that dental disease is more than just cosmetic. If you find your furry friend has red gums, yellow teeth and stinky breath, it could be a sign of oral disease. If left untreated, oral disease can lead…
Information provided by Douglas County Douglas County received a grant for $494,000 from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Federal Transit Administration to improve reliable transportation services for the County’s senior population and adults with disabilities. The grant will fund door-to-door, demand-response transportation services throughout the year. All Douglas County seniors and adults…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Michelle McClarran Castle Pines Girl Scout Troop 65517 took the opportunity to make some friends and play a little bingo at Legacy Village of Castle Pines. The girls spent an afternoon with residents calling out letters and numbers, searching for a straight, layered cake, baseball diamond and even…
By Bryan Goodland Being in a good relationship takes practice and time; it is a skill learned throughout one’s life. As the saying goes, with age does come wisdom and what better gift to give future generations then teaching them how to care for the ones they love. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to…
Article and photos by Lisa Crockett
A tale of making a classic dish my own Article and photo by Lisa Crockett This is comfort food season. It’s the time of year when I crave things that are hearty, filled with flavor, and – most importantly – warm. Mardi Gras takes place this month, bringing with it the flavors of the south:…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo courtesy of the Wing family Heidi Wing, president of the Rock Canyon Community Alliance (RCCA) is long-time volunteer and advocate for the Douglas County School District (DCSD). Wing saw a need at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) and created RCCA to help raise funds for not only the school’s after…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; Photos courtesy of Ashley Oxton Castle Pines resident Ashley Oxton remembers a time – long before King Soopers was at the corner of Lagae Road and Castle Pines Parkway, long before Daniels Park Road was paved, and long before the first house was built in the Castle Valley development – back…
Article and photos by Shaun Kernahan Although its seats will be vacant on Super Bowl Sunday, Empower Field at Mile High encompasses the ultimate Colorado football experience. Having opened in 2001 at a cost of $400.8 million, the six-level stadium is double the square footage of its predecessor Mile High Stadium, but it has just…
By Shaun Kernahan; photos courtesy of the Jones family September 24, 1994 was the date of, arguably, one of the most memorable single plays in sports history for the state of Colorado – the Miracle at Michigan. The seventh-ranked University of Colorado (CU) Buffaloes were in “The Big House,” facing off against the number four…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo courtesy of Ashley Oxton The commitment to a healthy lifestyle begins with that first step, and for many that first step is taken on New Year’s Day. Castle Pines Running (CPR) held the 5th annual Waterton Canyon New Year’s Day run, offering more than 60 runners an opportunity to take…
By Zachary Lipfield, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Jeff Douglass Rock Canyon High School (RCHS), Castle View High School and Douglas County High School together have an ice hockey team named the Castle View Sabercats (CVS). The team was terrific last season, winning the state tournament. This season started out hard with the team…
By Sarah Bermingham, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photo As a high school senior, the idea of paying for college is a concern I know I share with many. Scholarships are a great way to help lessen the cost of college, but it can be difficult to know how best to find and apply for them.…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Timber Trail Elementary Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) students were greeted with brightly printed posters and fellow students waving shining blue and gray pom poms as they returned to school after the long winter break. TTE Timber Team students showed their Timberwolves pride by welcoming students and families back to…
By Patte Smith In January, the Healing Our Youth – Get Educated symposium was held at Cresthill Middle School in Highlands Ranch. Hosted by the Douglas County Special Education Advisory Committee and sponsored by Highlands Behavioral Health System, the event was profoundly moving, alarming, motivating and educational. Mental health care professionals, physicians and parents presented…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of American Academy American Academy (AA) joined the nation in honoring local police officers for Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on January 9. Recognizing local officers and staff for their hard work and dedication to keeping our communities safe is a new tradition at AA. At a school where uniforms are…
By Maddy Merritt, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Sage Wheeler Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) senior Sage Wheeler earned a perfect score on the ACT. It was his second time taking the test. To study for the test, Wheeler used the Official ACT Prep Guide by Wiley. He did numerous practice tests which he…
Photo by Meredith Love
By Maddy Merritt, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photo The National Charity League Inc. (NCL) Elevation Chapter is a nonprofit organization that promotes mother-daughter relationships through volunteering and serving their communities. The Elevation Chapter supports numerous philanthropies, including Developmental Pathways, Clothes to Kids, Parker Secret Closet and the Help & Hope Center. NCL provides many opportunities…
By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of DCS Montessori New records were made during the DCS Montessori (DCSM) youth physical fitness test. Earlier in the school year, students completed two fitness tests measuring upper body strength. Push-ups and abdominal curl-ups were both part of the test. Demonstrating the student’s endurance, each exercise was performed to fatigue.…
It was only 46 degrees outside when 27 swimmers jumped into the outdoor pool at Colorado Athletic Club Inverness on January 3. The group from the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) girls swim team started their new year off by participating in the third annual Jag-A-Thon. The fundraiser operates through Swim Across America and raises…
By Sophia Bobier, student writer; photos courtesy of Jaidyn Shirley and Julian Bouquet Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) is home to many extra-curricular activities. These activities include numerous sports, performing arts, technology and more. There is one club, however, that stands apart from the rest. National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is a group of talented…
Article and photo by Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of Jessica Bird Landing the first job, living independently, paying the bills and cleaning house are all life skills we learn and acquire throughout our lifetime. Many of these skills came as a result of that one person, group or organization that believed in us and our…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Michelle Parker Young Americans Center for Financial Education is unique. It’s a financial institution designed specifically for kids, anyone 21 and younger – the only one in the world – and it’s right here in Denver. Young Americans is more than just a bank. It hosts numerous educational experiences.…
By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of DCS Montessori The first student leadership council was recently elected at DCS Montessori (DCSM). Cougar Council (CC) is made up of 10 sixth grade students, all of whom were voted in by their fellow sixth grade classmates. The CC will represent the student body in school activities. With no…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Julie Lamb The Castle Pines community has many amenities to offer residents, including natural trails, breathtaking views and a variety of wildlife. Neighboring Cherokee Ranch & Castle is home to roughly 1,000 elk. As fall turns to winter, vegetation for the local herd is scarce, which is why…
Article and photo submitted by the Country Club at Castle Pines The Country Club at Castle Pines, a centerpiece of The Village at Castle Pines, rang in the New Year with approval from its membership of an extensive $17.1 million reinvention project. The private, member-owned club plans to bring new dining and social features to…
By Bryan Goodland After much discussion at the public hearing on December 10, the Castle Pines City Council passed three ordinances relative to the Amendment to The Canyons Annexation Development Agreement. Included in the various ordinances was the addition of 1,500 dwelling units to the original 2009 proposal, increases in public land use, a new…
Submitted by Douglas County The Board of County Commissioners remanded the Use by Special Review application for a proposed asphalt batch plant on Airport Road near Louviers back to the Douglas County Planning Commission. This will give the Planning Commission the opportunity to review additional information submitted by the applicant since its previous hearing. Prior…
By Terri Wiebold Colorado is one of only 12 states that does not require licensing of tobacco retailers, and current state law prohibits the sale of tobacco products to minors under the age of 18. The City of Castle Pines recently passed an ordinance which imposes licensing requirements on tobacco retailers and raises the legal…
Reprinted from The Connection, January 2018 issue Editor’s note: In light of the recent activity of panhandlers seen in and around the King Soopers shopping center, as well as the many conversations taking place on various social media platforms, The Connection is reprinting an article that ran in January 2018 dealing with the same topic.…
By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Shea Homes For the past decade, there has been discussion of development on the east side of I-25, expanding the boundaries of the City of Castle Pines. The time has arrived and the first homeowner has been officially welcomed and has taken occupancy on the east side of the…
By Terri Wiebold 2019 was a special year for The Castle Pines Connection, as it was the culmination of 10 years of delivering “a little good news” to the community. The email featured in the testimonial above was the perfect way to wrap up our year, and it provides encouragement and inspiration as we…
Carin rejoins The Connection team of writers after a several year hiatus to stay home and raise her youngest child. Carin has lived in Castle Pines since moving from South Dakota in 2002 with her husband, Kenneth Cool. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communications from Iowa State University and a…
Article and photos by Kathy Fallert On Saturday, December 14, there was a bit of an arctic chill in the air as Santa blew in from the North Pole, making a stop at The Ridge at Castle Pines for the annual Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Holly Jolly Breakfast. Some came dressed fancy, some came…
By Patte Smith; courtesy photo The holidays are over, and it is time to slow down and decompress. Remember though, January and February are filled with plenty of winter fun opportunities, so take a deep breath, bundle up and head out to experience some amazing events. Golden’s UllrGrass Beer Festival (pronounced “ULL-er”) is a three-day…
Sharing a little good news Owner and publisher of The Castle Pines Connection, Terri Wiebold, lives in Parker but calls the Castle Pines community her home away from home. “I am very emotionally connected to Castle Pines, but living outside the community helps me to stay objective,” said Terri. “Plus, I can go to the…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard The Denver Art Museum (DAM), with the “Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature” exhibit offers a perfect opportunity to step out of the cold and get exposed to the French Impressionist’s relationship with nature. The exhibit is the largest collection of Monet paintings on display in 20 years. The DAM is…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Vickey Bryan Vickey Bryan of The Village at Castle Pines spent a few days this holiday season in the West Wing of the White House decorating for the holidays. This year’s theme, “The Spirit of America,” was a tribute to the traditions, customs and history that make our…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo courtesy of the Enquist family According to Food Allergy Research and Education, “researchers estimate that 32 million Americans have food allergies, including 5.6 million children under age 18. That’s one in 13 children, or roughly two in every classroom.” Mason Enquist happens to be one who lives with a severe…
Reading Between the Pines By Stacie Chadwick From a very early age, my parents taught me to be kind. To everyone. And I am, sometimes to a fault and so much so that with the best of intentions I get myself into trouble. I love connecting and creating in an effort to help others. It’s…
By Kathy Fallert In Europe, you can get an actual pet passport that remains valid for the life of your pet, as long as you keep their rabies vaccinations up to date. In the U.S., the term “pet passport” refers to the extra documents you need to bring along when you travel to other countries…
Photos courtesy of the Hay family
Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard For more than 10 years, neighbors in HOA2 have been gathering at the local clubhouse for a holiday celebration. The evening begins with Santa and Mrs. Claus telling Clement C. Moore’s, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” and then leading the children in a holiday carol sing-a-long. As dusk…
By Nancy Koontz; photos courtesy of Janice Wright Keeping with tradition, the Village Castle Pines Garden Club hosted its annual holiday brunch at Cherokee Ranch & Castle. The event was festive, each table adorned with a centerpiece made of red roses, pine cones and winter foliage. Club members hung donations on the “Garden Giving Tree”…
Thoroughly Modern Manners: Ask Mrs. Abramovitz Dear Readers, Please allow me to introduce myself and this new column. I’m Tammy Abramovitz, a 20-year resident of Castle Pines and a facilitator of modern manners. After being named one of the top 100 Best Party Hosts of 2018 by The Salonniere, a website dedicated to the art…
By Bryan Goodland Another new year is upon us. For many that means New Year’s Eve parties, fireworks and maybe even the clink of a champagne glass. However you choose to celebrate, the styles and choices you make are often based on where you live. With that in mind, here are some ways that people…
Article and photo by Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of Juni Fisher Historical research is fascinating. One clue leads to another and remarkable stories are unearthed. Jarre Canyon west of Sedalia has plenty. Juni Fisher, award winning singer, songwriter and entertainer memorializes her colorful Sedalia heritage in her “Gone for Colorado” album. Alphonse Jarre came to…
Offering dignification By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo courtesy of One Good Turn Driving around the metro area it is not uncommon to see someone at a street corner holding a sign asking for money. It happens frequently outside of Castle Pines and recently has been a topic of conversation here in the city (see…
Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner An exquisite hike to a special place: Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula.Our family has visited this magic land in the South Pacific frequently. We’ve tramped hundreds of miles on her world-famous tracks, lived through the Christchurch Earthquake and treated her two islands as our adventure land, writ large.…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett There’s a freshness to a new year. A blank slate, a clean canvas, a whole host of new possibilities just waiting to be discovered. For many of us, the new year means resolutions, a way to re-set after a month of parties and late nights filled with overindulgence. Daylight…
Article and photos by Lisa Crockett In a food processor fitted with a sharp blade, pulse the cottage cheese for about a minute until a smooth, creamy texture is achieved. Spread a generous dollop of the cheese onto the toast and drizzle with honey. The cheese will keep in the fridge for about a week…
By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Karly Bloom Senior Studies is a team-taught class at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) that combines language arts, social studies and service-learning. The class provides students more experiential learning opportunities through field trips, panel discussions, long-term service projects and group work with 50 hours of community service required for…
Congratulations Rock Canyon High School (RCHS), Buffalo Ridge Elementary and Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) for being honored recipients of the John Irwin Schools of Excellence Award. The award is given to schools that demonstrate excellent academic achievement in English, math and science. The three-year school performance framework is used by the state to evaluate schools…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of the Jordan family Last September, college athlete and Castle Pines resident Nicole Jordan found herself figuring out how to ship a bike to Europe. She had qualified to compete in the Ironman 70.3 World Championship. Since her days growing up in Castle Pines, Jordan has been a swimmer.…
By Lisa Nicklanovich New year, new you, right? Whether you are the kind of person who makes New Year’s resolutions or not, the new year is a fresh start. Some of us may see the new year as an opportunity to work on losing the few pounds that crept on during the holidays, or to…
What’s your APPtitude? By Kathy Fallert The holidays are behind us but unfortunately, for some of us, the extra calories from big holiday meals and fun snacks may not be. MyFitnessPal by Under Armour is a free app for Android or iOS which I have found to be a great help when it comes to…
By Steve Whitlock; photo courtesy of Aimee Buffington There is a new rock group in town. The band, Lucky Numbers, is made up of local teens. They formed over a year ago through a summer program offered by North Pines Music. During their most recent gig, the group entertained light rail commuters at Lincoln Station…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Gina Luber Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) second grade students became entrepreneurs for a day with the project-based learning unit called marketplace. The unit incorporated communication and differentiation by providing the students a choice in the product they created. Students were challenged to use inquiry and critical thinking while they…
Article and photo submitted by Douglas County Following a six-month public process, including collaboration with the Douglas County School District (DCSD), charter and private school leadership, and experts in school security and behavioral health, the Board of Douglas County Commissioners has announced the distribution of $10 million in one-time funds that were set aside following…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Jenna DiLoreto Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) school generously adopted 19 families this holiday season. Gifts included toys, books and clothing for children, and additional gifts and gift cards for parents flowed into BRE classrooms during December. Each classroom, kindergarten through fourth grade adopted one family, and the fifth grade…