Read the stories from the latest issue:
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…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of American Academy Since early fall, the American Academy (AA) robotic teams have been working hard on their robot models to compete in the American Academy Robotics Competition (A2RC). Students spent several hours researching, designing and applying the engineering design process to strategically plan, build, test, and improve their robot…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of the Sobota family Sophia Sobota, a student athlete at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) found her love for both academics and volleyball in the Castle Pines community. Now in her senior year, Sobota is reaping the benefits of hard work, determination and focus. The Sobota family moved to…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy Rebecca Jones Where’s the beef? That is the question many of us are asking as we visit our favorite burger joints and eateries, remembering when there was one beef option that was 100% all beef. As the population increases, food and diet trends continue to grow. There are more resources…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Tim Ryckman Kindergarten students from Buffalo Ridge Elementary proudly kicked off the winter holiday season with their first showcase. They spent weeks learning and practicing songs about Kwanzaa, Chanukah and Christmas. Students came up with all the movements they performed along with the songs. The children held hands, swayed,…
By Kaeli Nallathamby, student writer; Photo courtesy of Julian Bouquet In mid-November, 10 students gave their all to the judges in the Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) “Walk the Talk” speech competition. These passionate and talented students each prepared a three to five minute TED Talk speech on a topic of their choice. Each contestant…
By Alexandra Jacot, student writer; photos courtesy of Julia Rene Photo Over the years, Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) has put on countless plays and musicals. However, their last musical, “Shrek the Musical Jr.” was a huge hit with a full house all three nights. Everyone loved seeing the musical and participating in it for…
By Steve Whitlock; photo courtesy of Parker Dragovich The Valor High School girls cross country team placed eighth in the nation at the Nike Cross Nationals. Going in, they were ranked 17th. Race day was very wet, muddy, and cold. While the girls are acclimated to Colorado weather, the conditions in Portland were unlike anything…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos Team Stutler gathered on December 8 in Washington Park with a total of 44 members and eight dogs, winning the largest group category at the event. There were 21 new members this year, as well as many returning members. The group was comprised of neighbors, friends, co-workers and family from…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Wendy Wilson Showcasing artwork is important to young artists. Art brings people together and builds communities. This is why Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) art teacher Wendy Wilson encourages her students to participate in the Front Range National Arts Program (NAP). Wilson feels this is a great opportunity for her…
By Shaun Kernahan; photos by Terri Wiebold and courtesy of Jan Hejda It was the summer of 2011, Jan Hejda was a National Hockey League (NHL) free agent for the first time after six seasons in his native Czech Republic, three in Russia, and five in the NHL between Edmonton, Canada and Columbus, Ohio. When…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard It’s here – 2020 has arrived. For those high school seniors who have been counting the years to graduation with each passing grade, it’s now only a few more months away. The Douglas County School District (DCSD), as part of graduation requirements, has every high school senior complete 20 hours of…
Get your snowmobile runnin’ By Michelle Post; photo by Terri Wiebold “Get your snowmobile runnin’” are not words I ever heard growing up in Crowley, Texas. I lived in a small rural city and remember only a few winters where we received enough snow to cancel school. We received more ice storms than snow storms.…
A step back in time Article and photos by Liz Jurkowski Many of us have been to Mesa Verde, where massive cliff depressions housed the buildings and homes of Native American groups who inhabited much of the southwest many centuries ago. While Mesa Verde National Park is well worth the drive to the southwestern corner…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Timber Trail Elementary The holiday season is such a joyous time of year spent with family, friends and loved ones. The Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) kindergarten class lesson on the family unit came just in time for the holidays. The My Family Name unit allows students to share with…
Reading Between the Pines: by Stacie Chadwick As parents, my husband and I expect our three teenage children to pull their relative weight in the family. Grades are important, chores mandatory, and the economics of a burgeoning life on their own are discussed and debated in a way that often puts five distinct personalities on…
Mike Boryla enjoying life back out of the shadows in Castle Rock. By Shaun Kernahan; photos courtesy of Mike Boryla With 65,000 screaming fans at the old Veterans Stadium, Mike Boryla took his place in the huddle as the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. In an odd way, it was those moments that perfectly prepared…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of American Academy The Osa Peninsula is home to 50% of all species found in Costa Rica and was noted by National Geographic as, “The most biologically intense place on Earth.” Its dense forest of mingled trees with roaming wildlife sent 16 eighth grade students from all three American Academy…
By Lisa Nicklanovich A little dose of kindness can go a long way, and sometimes it is nice to be reminded of all the good in the world. The Kind World podcasts tell stories of how acts of kindness can change lives. Kind World podcasts comes from Boston’s National Public Radio news station that produces…
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together oil, sugar, and cinnamon until the mixture is well incorporated. Spread pretzels in a large roasting pan (16x13x3 inches) and drizzle with oil mixture, tossing well to coat. Bake pretzels for 30 minutes, stirring mixture every 10 minutes to ensure pretzels…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; Photos courtesy of the City of Castle Pines Mayor Tera Radloff, members of the city council and residents of the City of Castle Pines cut the ribbon for the official opening of the new fitness court located at Elk Ridge Park. Attendees received a hands-on orientation of the seven-circuit training system…
By Celeste McNeil Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) fifth grade students are honing their writing skills by partnering with writing buddies from Rock Canyon High School (RCHS). The partnership, linking students from the college preparation American English class with 11-year-olds is new this year. According to fifth grade teacher Michelle Parker, each BRE student has a…
By Bryan Goodland Christmas is coming fast upon us. If you haven’t finished or even started shopping, it is time to roll up your sleeves and get to it – especially if there are kids on your list. What should you buy the kids in your life? Keeping up with the latest trends in toys…
The color contrasts at Binalong Bay detail the orange lichen, azure seas, white clouds and blue skies of the region. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner As noted in the October issue of The Connection, the Tasmania experience is a breed apart. It is refreshing and temperate, unlike the Australian mainland. Lightly populated, it’s a…
Allan Dyer, Castle Pines resident for 16 years, is the new baseball coach at Rock Canyon High School. Dyer has a big vision for long-needed improvements to the field and the facilities. He is excited for the community to see all the positive improvements which, he said, “are a testament to the great people who…
Pictured right: The only girls in the third/fourth grade age group, Jordan McCrary (left), Sophia Bonnstetter (center) and Winter Keough (right) helped bring the LA Rams team to victory. Information and photos submitted by Castle Pines Athletics While the NFL pro football season is still in full swing, youth flag football in Castle Pines culminated…
Dan Casper shared some of his beautiful artwork, which is not for sale, at the Autumn Wine Walk in The Village at Castle Pines last month. He creates the pieces in his home studio and shares them with anyone interested in viewing them. Article and photos by Nancy Koontz There is an artist living in…
Legacy Village of Castle Pines residents enjoyed handing out candy while the ghosts and ghouls practiced their trick-or-treat manners. By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of Timber Trail Elementary Bundled up in their favorite Halloween costumes Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) preschool students and first graders enjoyed a walking field trip to Legacy Village of Castle Pines.…
By Joe Gschwendtner: photos courtesy of Denver Public Library The Roaring ‘20s in the Wildcat Mountains did not lack excitement. Bootlegging and gambling were rampant, especially in Larkspur, where the Feds found and busted the two largest moonshine stills in the county. Their proprietors would do 3-5 years in the pen. Perhaps the headline event…
Castle Pines residents Natalie Roesch (left) and Mimi Brosh (right) volunteer at La Cache, a high-end, vintage consignment store in Denver that helps support Children’s Hospital Colorado. In the background is a poster honoring the store’s total donations of $5 million to the hospital since La Cache was established in 1982. By Patte Smith, photo…
Information submitted by LEAP As Colorado’s winter snow rolls in, the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) kicked off the 2019-20 season with expanded eligibility criteria for individuals and families needing heating assistance. Enrollment for the 2019-2020 program started November 1 and will continue through April 30, 2020. “We are grateful that a larger number…
By Michelle Post Have you ever visited a mall, zoo, and/or theme park and needed to head straight for the huge map at the entrance? You want to know where you are and where you need to go. You look for the words, “You Are Here.” Then you look for where you want to go,…
First grade students from Mrs. Byrd’s class made stuffed teddy bears, friendship bracelets and tic-tac-toe games to sell at Market Day – the culmination of their economics unit. By Celeste McNeil; courtesy photos Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) first grade students culminated their economics unit with a profitable Market Day. Serving as the fall semester showcase,…
By Lisa Nicklanovich If you struggle with trying to find a just-right gift for everyone on your holiday list, give Giftster, a private web and mobile gift registry a try. The giftster app is free for iOS and Android devices and both the app and website are very easy to use. It makes sure the…
By Bryan Goodland; graphic courtesy of DAWG Nation In October 2020, the City of Castle Pines may potentially become home to a new multi rink ice arena. The facility is a partnership between the City and a local nonprofit called DAWG Nation Hockey Foundation (DAWG Nation). Martin Richardson, the CEO of DAWG Nation, met…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard The holiday season, for many, is met with joy and anticipation, and perhaps a dose of stress. Across the Denver metro area, there are many families that struggle through the holidays. Tennyson Center for Children (TCC), located in the Highlands neighborhood of Denver, is able to bring the excitement of the…
American Academy student Ella Smith shines as bright and confident off stage as she does on stage. By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of American Academy American Academy Performing Arts (AAPA) eighth grade student Ella Smith has landed the title role of Matilda in the Parker Arts and Sasquatch Productions live performances of “Matilda, the Musical.”…
This mischievous photo of “Gus” was sent in for the Cutest Pet in the Pines contest in 2016. If Gus is your cat, email editor@castlepinesconnection to receive a $25 gift card. By Susan Helton; courtesy photo A few pet safety considerations can help keep the holiday season happy for the whole family. Holiday Plants: Many…
Left to right: Sydney Cohen, Kate Anderson, Pablo Stewart, Gabe Dozois, Christian Caron and Chloe Connell had an amazing experience getting into character for Mystery History. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori Fifteen years ago, DCS Montessori (DCSM) began the Mystery History celebration, the school’s much anticipated tradition celebrating Halloween. While many schools…
By Susan Helton Connection writer Susan Helton is an avid reader – more than 100 books so far this year. This month, she shares a collection of Christmas letters. Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien is a delightful collection of letters to the Tolkien children from Father Christmas, as Santa Claus is known in…
By Bryan Goodland Every two years, the Douglas County Assessor’s Office revalues all real estate in the county as of an appraisal date set by state law. According to Assessor Lisa Frizell, Douglas County homeowners will likely see an increase in their 2019 property tax bill, arriving in the mail in the next 6-8 weeks.…
Representing quilting squares, Mrs. Martin’s class hands came together and left behind the following message for us all – “Every act of kindness weaves together, and like a patchwork quilt brings comfort, warmth and beauty to those it touches.” By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of American Academy Kindness Week is an annual tradition celebrated by…
Natural beauty and nature By Susan Helton; photo courtesy of Stefanie Palko Stefanie Palko, owner and president of Copperfalls Aveda Spa and Salon, founded the company roughly 20 years ago. “Downtown Castle Rock was just starting to bloom, and the timing was perfect,” stated Stefanie. “Day spas were becoming a thing and I knew I…
After a long season, with most teams starting practice in the summer, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) fall sports are coming to an end. Juliett Abbott, Bailey Kracke, and Sofia Anderson supported Bella Albers while cheering on the varsity football team in their game against Cherokee Trail August 30. Photo courtesy of Amanda Brauchler. Cheer…
Timber Trail Elementary bingo winner Lenya Sanford graciously accepted her bingo award from student volunteer emcees Molly McCarthy (left) and Landyn Pettis (right). By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Timber Trail Elementary October is that favorite time of year for Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) students, families and staff dressed in their favorite goblin, ghoul and…
Article and photos by Celeste McNeil Cub Scout Pack 856 gathered recently to honor veterans and learn about the American flag. American Legion Post 1187 joined the Cub Scouts for the evening, allowing the boys to meet and interact with local veterans. Together, the young boys learned how to properly fold an American flag. They…
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) canine Scooter spied a ball during RHMS career day presentation with his handler Deputy Brad Proulx. By Kaeli Nallathamby, RHMS intern writer; photos courtesy of RHMS The future often seems far off and distant, but eighth grade students at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) looked at what their future careers…
Submitted by Tony’s Meats & Market; photos courtesy of Steph Keliiholokai Tony’s Meats & Market in The Village at Castle Pines hosted more than 100 guests for Beef & Bourbon Night – celebrating the grand opening of Tony’s new Dry Aged Meat room. Samples of Tony’s new The Butcher’s Pantry sauces were paired with a…
Christy Smith has been a beloved part of the BRE community for 20 years and will be missed when she retires in May. Article and photo by Celeste McNeil Christy Smith has been greeting students, staff and families at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) for 20 years. As registrar, she meets new families, gives tours of…
Marching band members mingle on the stands at the Tri-Force State Marching Band Championship, November 2 at Echo Park. Band teacher Mr. Fruits organized the event following the cancellation of the state competition. By Jana Seal, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Emily Wilson To many, marching band sounds like a small commitment to play…
By Patte Smith Chanukah, the Jewish eight-day, wintertime festival of lights, will be celebrated beginning Sunday evening, December 22 and continuing through Monday evening, December 30. Christmas services and worship times vary throughout December and are celebrated at area churches. Here is a list of local services for Chanukah and Christmas: Chabad Jewish Center of…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Sandra Fierro-Andrews Fresh off her performances at the 7th Denver Salsa & Bachata Congress, Sandra Fierro-Andrews, local Castle Pines resident, found her way to dance through fitness in her hometown of Cali, Colombia. The youngest of three girls, Fierro-Andrews remembers comparing her body image to her older sisters…
Castle Pines residents and seniors at RCHS Courtenay Krause (left), Lauren Karaba (center) and Alexa Narlinger (right) donated blood during the RCHS blood drive in November. By Maddy Merritt, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Hannah Olsen The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) Key Club held its annual blood drive November 1 with help from…
The friendly front-office staff at Brandon Linn Orthodontics. Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard Brandon Linn Orthodontics, a local Castle Pines business, is partnering with the Salvation Army and the organization’s Angel Tree Program to help provide Christmas for those less fortunate this holiday season. The holidays can be economically challenging for many and…
DCSM sixth grade students Chloe Goodman-Scott, (left) Michelle Batson (middle) and teacher Diana Visser (right) learn that providing customers with exceptional service is a big part of the Starbucks experience. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori While it’s not uncommon to see the Castle Pines local Starbucks’ baristas multitasking behind the counter, it…
By Patte Smith Horse-drawn carriage rides will take families and friends on an old-fashioned jaunt around the Schweiger Ranch Austrian Christmas Festival & Christkindl Market on Saturday, December 7 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Kids get to visit with Santa and his reindeer, make crafts and have their faces painted, while adults can attend…
A cup of Christmas comfort By Michelle Post; courtesy photo According to Ancestry.com, 77% of my ethnicity is located in England, Wales and Northwestern Europe. Perhaps this is one of the reasons I love tea. My mother, Annie, was a proud Newfoundlander who was born and raised on tea. In my book, Heaven Has Tea…
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…
Caption and photos by Kathy Fallert Saturday, October 12 was a beautiful fall day to enjoy some savory chili samples and mix it up with friends at the 11th annual Best in the West Chili Cook-off in The Village at Castle Pines. For $5, visitors got to sample all the red and green chili they…
A small sction of the Painted Cliffs rock formation at Maria Island National Park. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy map Among the world’s most remote and enticing places, Tasmania vies for my blue ribbon. Time will stand still for you in “Tassie”… Getting there takes some doing. Brace yourself: Denver to California, then…
County Commissioner Lora Thomas, City of Lone Tree Mayor Jackie Millet, Keith Simons of RidgeGate Investments and Schweiger Ranch, County Commissioner Abe Laydon and John “Turk” Montepare from Great Outdoors Colorado celebrated the opening of the new segment of trail by tossing native grass seeds along part of the trail that runs past Schweiger Ranch…
The two closest Christmas tree cutting areas to Castle Pines and the surrounding neighborhoods are Buffalo Creek and Rampart Range Road. Other areas are shown on the map for those who want to adventure a little further from home. Visit www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r2/recreation/?cid=fseprd562604 for more information. By Patte Smith There is nothing like heading up to the…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of the Colorado Historical Society Yes he was. Tom Campbell. Dead. Finished off with a bullet in George Manhart’s dance hall in Sedalia on Saturday, May 6, 1899 as reported in The Castle Rock Journal at the time. Campbell, aka Thomas Jackson, was a tough customer. Well-known in Douglas County…
The Wasson family (pictured left to right) Rachel, daughter Reese (10), Andrew, and son Austin (8) found the perfect location for their brewpub in historic downtown Castle Rock which opened in October of last year. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Andrew Wasson What do you get when you combine three family members, all Air…
Deni Loritsch has been telling stories her whole life as a way to connect with those around her. She has completed four children’s stories; one of which is ready for publication. By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo courtesy of Deni Loritsch Speech pathologist, writer and storyteller are all words one could use to describe Castle Pines…
By Patte Smith Remember, Medicare open enrollment and the chance to make changes to your 2020 Medicare plan ends on December 7. Medicare’s open enrollment period started October 15 and continues until December 7. During this time, individuals who qualify for Medicare can enroll in health and drug plans for 2020. Individuals who qualified in…
The Rock Canyon High School boys basketball team spent the day completing many “honey-do” tasks at Warren Village First Step transitional housing for single mothers Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard The Rock Canyon High School boys basketball team partnered once again with Warren Village and its First Step program to give back through…
By Patte Smith Crisis Center in Castle Rock is asking the community to sponsor client families and individuals with their holiday 2019 Adopt-a-Family program. These families and individuals struggle day-to-day to try to make ends meet. Through their courage and resilience, they have removed themselves, and many times their children, from abusive homes and conditions.…
Members from the Castle Pines Brownie Troop 65517 (pictured left to right) Elle Scott, Flannery Cool, Ellie Kasal, Lenya Sanford and Reagan Ramsey tackled the trash on Castle Rock’s East Plum Creek Trail. Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard Castle Pines Brownie Troop 65517 worked toward earning their Eco Friend Badge and helped collect…