Read the stories from the latest issue:
On August 27 in Lima, Peru, Castle Pines resident Amanda Palyo (pictured right) brought home a bronze medal at the Parapan American Games for the 100 meter backstroke with teammates Lizzi Smith (left) taking the silver and Hanna Aspden (center) taking the gold. The U.S. team took nine medals in all; three gold, three silver…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Nicole Miles The annual back-to-school carnival at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) was larger than ever this year. Carnival committee chair Shenah Lutrick and her crew pulled out all the stops to make the carnival a success. They added more inflatable slides, jump house, obstacle courses and additional games, including…
Music director, and co-founder of the Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra, Jacinda Bouton. By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Cindy Kessinger American composer and conductor Aaron Copland once said, “to stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable.” Thankfully, neither time nor music has stopped. This season marks…
A postcard highlighting many of Dresden’s architectural wonders as they stand today, rebuilt and celebrated. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos Scant months after the Berlin Wall came down, I visited. Heady days for those fleeing Communism. Consumer goods. Variety. Freedom to do most anything. “Osties” with cars would drive west gawking at…
By Celeste McNeil; courtesy photo Student government is the most well-known example of school-based student leadership groups. But the opportunities at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) are much broader. BRE hosts several options for students in third, fourth and fifth grade interested in leadership. Green Team The Green Team consists of 20 third, fourth and fifth…
Burt Knight, CPMD district manager By Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of the Castle Pines Metropolitan District On September 16, the Castle Pines Metropolitan District (CPMD) welcomed Burt Knight, P.E. as its new district manager. District directors and staff are looking forward to his enthusiastic, seasoned brand of leadership. Knight brings 35 years of municipal engineering…
By Kathy Fallert Ghost Observer is an entertaining camera tool that shows ghosts around you in an augmented reality experience. In other words, the app uses a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on the user’s view of the real world and creates a new composite view. As Halloween quickly approaches, with scary movies and…
An EpiLocker on the wall has stock epinephrine for emergencies. Article and photo by Lynn Zahorik Within the halls of every Douglas County School District (DCSD) school is a yellow box called an EpiLocker. These boxes, which contain stock epinephrine auto injectors for emergency situations, have been present since December 2017. Approximately one in 13…
Information provided by the City of Castle Pines Get ready for an exercise experience like no other. The City of Castle Pines is building an outdoor fitness court in Elk Ridge Park that provides users the ability to complete seven movements in seven minutes for a total-body workout and stretch routine. The circuit training system…
Article and photos by Lisa Crockett October is the month of orange, one last burst of color as the season changes. It’s such a fallish hue, with the cozy connotation of the falling leaves and jack-o’-lanterns that are the hallmark of the season. I love all the orange foods: pumpkin, butternut squash, oranges (of course)…
The Rock Canyon High School football program spent a day working on neighborhood improvements as part of a community service project put together by the Touchdown Club, the program’s booster organization. By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Extreme Community Makeover In late July, the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) football program took more than…
Information provided by Douglas County Libraries Real people with real stories and issues, that is what the Human Library is about. Douglas County Libraries (DCL) is thrilled to bring the popular Human Library event back to its Castle Rock location in 2020 and is currently recruiting new “human books” for the event. DCL is seeking…
Rock Canyon High School biotechnology students Sabine Manske (left) and Berlin Barnett (right) wrap up their presentation and prepare to answer questions from potential investors. Article and photos by Jana Seal, RCHS intern writer In a classroom full of science teachers, parents and researchers, students prepare to present their PowerPoint presentations. These presentations were not…
By Lisa Nicklanovich The number of podcast listeners has more than doubled in the past five years, which is not surprising considering there are millions of podcasts to choose from, covering an almost unfathomable range of topics. Whether you are already a podcast listener or are new to the podcast world, we hope you will…
Students enjoy an evening snorkeling under the cool ocean water while experiencing bioluminescence. (Inset) Castle Pines campus student Zach Buchold found his school trip souvenir, a lobster, while swimming with the leopard and horn sharks. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of American Academy What an amazing experience American Academy (AA) seventh grade students had on…
By Patte Smith Local fun is better than ever this fall. Close by, the Schweiger Ranch Fall Festival in Lone Tree will be held on Saturday, October 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festival features hay wagon rides, a pumpkin patch with pumpkins for $5 each, and free mini pumpkins and gourds for…
Article and photo by Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of the Colorado Historical Society As we left 1871 Huntsville in the throes of death in our Wildcat Lore last month, commerce shifted rapidly south to Larkspur. This was due in no small measure to relocation of the post office and arrival of the Denver & Rio…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; Photo courtesy of the Amey family Madison Amey, senior and back-up kicker for the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) Jaguars, joined the team as the second female kicker last spring. Due to tendonitis in her hip flexor, she unfortunately has been on the sidelines. Amey’s road to becoming part of the…
Article and photo by Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of the Colorado Historical Society Named for Colorado’s fourth Territorial Governor, Huntsville history was fleeting but colorful, beginning in 1859. Located on the Territorial Road north of Larkspur, Huntsville owed its existence to lumbering, clay extraction, traveler accommodations and security. In 1858, Iowans Sarah Ann and James…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Cy DeBoer Village resident Cy DeBoer is a busy woman. She is a wife to Bruce and mother to Ryan and Whitney, grandmother of two (Harbour and Chase) and friend to many. Cy is a columnist, author and inspirational speaker. She created and runs a local charity and has…
Caption and photos by Nancy Koontz The Castle Pines Homes Association, as part of its yearly community events, celebrated homeowners with its summer adult-only social held on Saturday, July 27 at the Canyon Club Picnic Pavilion. Wine, beer and other beverages, along with the usual spectacular food created by Flying Horse Catering, were served. Everyone…
Kathleen (far left) sharing her passion for aerospace with her family at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Kathleen Pirazzi We all know life rarely goes as planned. When children experience the unexpected bumps in life, often their parents are dealt the seemingly impossible task of keeping everything running smoothly…
Photos by Lynn Zahorik; slideshow at www.castlepinesconnection.com/pages/photos/album19.html
Bhavya Surapaneni (13) was selected to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland in May after competing in several local spelling bees. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Bhavya Surapaneni Bhavya Surapaneni has no need for spell-check, placing first in the Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) and Douglas County School District (DCSD) spelling…
By Bryan Goodland It was a different time, a different era. The Kennedys held court, the Beach Boys were still singing about California girls and everyone was wishing for a Pontiac GTO. And locally, the Broncos (1960) and the Rockets (1967), now called the Nuggets, came onto the scene. While the 1960s seem like a…
Front row, left to right: Matt Hoffman, Emily Donnelly and daughter Brooklyn, Shaylin Stein, Lucy Meisel, Katie Connolly, Kenzie Baber, Adriana Lysak, Ally Pfeiffer, Kaylin Clark, John Dennen, Roma Roth, Tristan Moore, and Amy Humenchick with daughter Lulie. Back row, left to right: Chase Porrini, Logan Kennedy, Cade Hassell (holding up daughter), Charlee Raye, Patrick…
Random acts of kindness By Elise Brassell; photo courtesy of Meghann Guentensberger After a terrible tragedy, the Guentensberger family made a decision that they hope will have a ripple effect for years to come. Following the accidental death of their daughter Rylie at just 12 years old, the family decided to honor her memory in…
Joyful times for the Saunders family as they celebrated life with their youngest son and brother Greyson, as he kissed a dolphin, swam in the ocean and played and laughed in Hawaii. A wish come true for Greyson by the Make-A-Wish Foundation after he “graduated to survivorship” following nearly two years of battling a rare…
DCSM proudly thanked the Douglas County voters for highly needed new HVAC units. DCS Montessori (DCSM) sends all of its Douglas County voters a big “thank you”, as the school’s new HVAC units are fully up and running for the anticipated new school year. The 5B Bond dollars were hard at work at DCS Montessori…
The Torscher bunch By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Cheryl Torscher Colorado native Gary Torscher is co-owner of Castle Pines North Wine & Spirits. His sister-in-law Tammy Sloat is his partner in the business. Gary first met his wife Cheryl, another Colorado native, on the train to Glenwood Springs when they were 15 years old.…
Pictured above: Map of the proposed additional homes added (2nd amendment) to The Canyons Planned Development. By Bryan Goodland; map courtesy of North Canyons, LLLP In July, North Canyons, LLLP submitted a 2nd amendment to The Canyons Planned Development (PD) in Castle Pines, requesting allowance for an additional 1,500 residential units to be developed. This…
By Kathy Fallert I’m probably more old school than most. But a lot of apps get really complicated and have more options than I care to figure out or can keep track of. This is not the case with the app PackPoint. PackPoint is a very easy to use, straightforward app that is a handy…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Nothing encapsulates the feeling of early fall quite like an apple. Crisp and sweet, a fresh fall apple is one of nature’s most divine creations. Some of my favorite September indulgences are spicy apple desserts like apple crisp and apple pie, either one warm from the oven and dripping…
By Susan Helton Connection writer Susan Helton is an avid reader, once reading 64 books during the summer – just because. This month, she shares a tale about the neighborhood curmudgeon. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman was originally published in Sweden. The book has been on my “to read” list for a while,…
Article and photos by Lisa Crockett In a medium saucepan, melt the butter then add sugar, corn syrup and condensed milk, stir constantly and allow mixture to come to a boil. As soon as the mixture boils, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla. The caramel dip will thicken as it cools.…
Gabled salt storage buildings along the river Trave in Lubeck, Northern Germany, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner My first visit was at age 8, in 1953. Our suitcases were stuffed with cigarettes and coffee – high-value barter items in post-war Germany stricken with shortages. As we drove from Nuremberg…
By Steve Whitlock; photo by Terri Wiebold There are now a number of food delivery services available to the residents of Castle Pines. They include Uber Eats, GrubHub and DoorDash, each of which has been growing its delivery orders between 55-90% a year – evidence of its increased popularity. One local driver, Sina Bikloo, who…
By Michelle Post; courtesy photo Coworking is the answer to staying connected for entrepreneurs, startups, freelancers, remote workers and home-based businesses. But just what is coworking? Google defines coworking as “the use of an office or other working environment by people who are self-employed or working for different employers, typically so as to share equipment,…
Article and photos by Kathy Fallert Tony’s Meats & Market in The Village at Castle Pines hosted a hog roast in conjunction with the annual Hot Rods in The Village car show on Saturday, August 10. Many makes and models of vintage cars lined the streets and live music entertained the crowds, while the savory…
An AED is located right inside the main entrance at Buffalo Ridge Elementary. Article and photo by Lynn Zahorik National Preparedness Month is observed each September to promote family and community disaster and emergency planning now and throughout the year. It is sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the 2019 theme recognized across…
By Patte Smith Each September, National Suicide Prevention Month is a call to action by every organization involved in suicide prevention. These groups reach out to the public to educate individuals, families and friends about warning signs and the importance of being proactive in seeking help. Individuals who mention or are contemplating suicide need to…
Brand proudly takes his place as the national champion on the race podium. Brand finished first in the mens 15-19 age group for the USA Sprint Triathlon. By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Mira Brand Carter Brand, Rock Canyon High School senior and Castle Pines resident, finished at the top of the podium as…
By Patte Smith It is a beautiful time of the year to get outside and enjoy family and friends while experiencing some top-notch festivals near and far. Whether you enjoy a stein of beer, face painting, fine art or going on a hayride, there is something for everyone. Close by, the premier 30th Colorado Artfest…
Four generations of Fallerts learned about their roots this summer. Brook Fallert Laguana (center) pictured with her father, Castle Pines resident Mitch Fallert (left), her grandfather Jerry Fallert (right) and her daughter Melelani Laguana (front). By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Brook Fallert Laguana My stepdaughter, Brook Fallert Laguana, went through a recent career change…
All smiles and shining bright Phillip Ullom takes the stage with his fellow cast and crew members for the final curtain call of American Academy’s “High School Musical.” By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of American Academy With the new school year now upon us, it seemed fitting that the American Academy (AA) theater arts program…
By Lynn Zahorik, courtesy photos The Mile High Rowing Club (MHRC) is a nonprofit youth rowing program for ages 13-18 operating on the waters of Cherry Creek Reservoir in Denver. Rowing builds character and is a mental and physical discipline that helps youth thrive on the water and land. An accomplished rower, Coach Grace Malacrida…
The City of Castle Pines unveiled new street signs along Castle Pines Parkway on August 19. The new signage features a portion of the City’s new logo and replaces the old Douglas County signs. Other street signs throughout the City will be replaced over time and on an as-needed basis. Pictured above left: Mayor Tera…
The Best Zip lining in Colorado By Michelle Post; photos courtesy of Bob Wiebold Imagine standing on a platform 100 feet in the air, and you are looking across the Animas River, near Durango, Colorado at your next zip destination. That’s where I found myself on my 20th wedding anniversary. My husband and I wanted…
Standing next to a massive petrified tree stump was cool for these campers, but learning how the tree stump became petrified was remarkable. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCSM DCS Montessori (DCSM) students enjoyed one last summer adventure before they turned in their hiking boots and binoculars for books and homework. Fourteen first through…
Robert Thelen (pictured above with his wife, Karissa) presented at the 2019 American Educational Research Association Conference in Toronto, Canada. By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Robert Thelen Robert Thelen excitedly filled the assistant principal vacancy at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) left when Jen Murdock-Jacoway moved into the role of principal earlier this year. He…
By Stacie Chadwick I’m a planner. A doer. I make lists so I can check things off, and then add what I’ve already finished just so I can check those tasks off too. I’m purposeful and economical – looking ahead to make sure I’m walking the fastest route from point A to B and managing…
Castle Pines resident Blake Wilson has launched his new company, Colorado Gold Label Beer LLC, and his product is available at many locations within Castle Pines. By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Blake Wilson Have you ever had a collection? Castle Pines resident since 2005, Blake Wilson has been collecting beer cans for the past…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; Photos courtesy of Addison Wagner The transition from college to full-blown adulthood can be bumpy. Underemployment, moving back home or contemplating graduate school are real possibilities for many new graduates. There can be a societal pressure that with a diploma comes a 9-to-5 job, a mortgage and a definite life plan.…
Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzc2ZbyGNqw&feature=youtu.be to watch this video about trail etiquette. Information provided by Douglas County Did you know that last year Douglas County Parks and Open Space properties received more than one million visitors? Hikers, bikers and equestrians all shared hundreds of miles of trails. And while the County’s 17,000 acres of public open space offer…
By Maddy Merritt, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photo With 75 days of summer and a multitude of new arrivals to Netflix and other TV programming, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) students awaited new seasons of their favorite shows including the highly anticipated “Stranger Things 3,” “Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists,” “Shameless,” “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug…
Enthusiastic botanists (left to right) Landon Gulliver, Aleena Koheil, Lucas Gulliver, Alana Rotherham and Graciella Rebull enjoyed the beautiful flower gardens at Denver Botanic Gardens. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCSM A small group of third through fifth grade DCS Montessori (DCSM) campers received a lesson on birds, bees and botany as part of…
By Bryan Goodland; photos courtesy of Travis Woolford and Bob Wiebold The Village at Castle Pines will soon be home to a new housing development, The Summit. Sitting at roughly 7,000 feet above sea level and across the street from The Country Club at Castle Pines, the approximately 35-acre development will offer a collection of…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett I recently spent an afternoon with one of my children at an international fair. It was an amazing day full of experimenting with different languages, watching various cultural performances of singing and dancing, and generally learning more about the larger world. While I loved the theme of peace and…
By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Biz Hansen Taglit is the Hebrew word for discovery. Taglit-Birthright Israel, also known as Birthright, is a not-for-profit educational organization that sponsors free 10-day heritage trips to Israel for young adults of Jewish heritage, ages 18-25. At the end of spring, six graduates of Rock Canyon High School (RCHS)…
Chris Cooke is the new principal at RHMS. By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Chris Cooke Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) embraces change as the 2019-2020 school year begins. Chris Cooke returns to RHMS as principal. Cooke was on staff at RHMS when it opened 16 years ago. He taught science and technology and held…
Avery Tomlinson swimming the breast stroke at a Castle Crocs summer swim meet. By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo courtesy of the Tomlinson family Avery Tomlinson swam the 50 meter breaststroke in 38.13 seconds, beating the Castle Crocs team record of 39.14 held by Abby Kochevar since the summer of 2010. Tomlinson joined the team as…
By Terri Wiebold; photo by Elise Brassell Last month, we celebrated that Farmer’s Insurance raised $24,000 at the 14th Annual American Cancer Society 2019 Coaches vs. Cancer Hope Invitational of Denver, held at The Country Club at Castle Pines. For clarification, that was the amount one team raised in the fight against cancer and not…
By Bryan Goodland Maybe the days of scaling 14ers are far behind you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy all that Colorado has to offer. There are plenty of hikes throughout the Denver metro area and beyond that are breathtakingly beautiful and are manageable for all skill and activity levels. Daniels Park If it…
Reading Between the Pines By Stacie Chadwick As parents, we spend decades preaching and teaching. “Be a good person. Make good choices. Do good things.” Now it’s your turn to manage our messages and figure out what moves your needle even a fraction off-center. Find, embrace, and act on the things that matter most to…
Alec Celecki says his years swimming and working for the Castle Crocs swim team has been a highlight of his summer for the past 14 years. Alec Celecki, pictured below at age 8, proudly posed for a picture after making his first All Star time in the 25 meter butterfly. By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos…
Article and photo by Michelle Post I love river rafting. I was first introduced to it in Texas. Every Memorial Day holiday a group from my husband’s work would raft the Guadalupe River. Some years we just floated and others we rode the rapids. Regardless of the conditions, it was always fun. So, when we…
Steven Collis is a lawyer, professor and successful author in Castle Pines. By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Steven Collis For one Serena resident in the City of Castle Pines, religious freedom is more than part of the First Amendment, it is a way of life. Steven Collis has spent his career understanding, perusing and…
Students set high goals and “rocked” the climbing wall at Rock’n & Jam’n. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCSM Campers didn’t have to travel great distances to experience the great outdoors and adventures this summer. Seventeen fourth through eighth grade DCS Montessori (DCSM) students dove into summertime with some epic Colorado adventures here in…
This small hummingbird was lucky to be inside Fire Station 39 where SMFR firefighters nursed it to health last month. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of SMFR Colorado, many people enjoy bird watching in the spring and summer months. Especially fun to watch are the hummingbirds. The most common species of hummingbirds in Colorado are…