The Connection

Jack Koressel, 12, has become an award-winning dancer, often training more than 15 hours each week. By Elise Brassell; photos courtesy of Christie Koressel To truly be exceptional at something often takes commitment and sacrifice. It can mean investing extra practice time when you would rather be hanging out with your friends; it can mean…

Cutline and photo by Patte Smith Buffalo Ridge, Timber Trail and Wildcat Elementary schools’ beginning and intermediate band students joined the Rocky Heights Middle School orchestras and Rock Canyon’s jazz band, concert band, symphony orchestra and marching band for a concert on December 12. The program was remarkable, and the younger musicians were inspired by…

Article and photo by Catalin Varela The new year brings new beginnings in all areas of life, including the closet. We all have that corner of the closet we have not touched in a while; that corner that we swear every year we are going to either fit into or get rid of. This year,…

The Castle Rock Community Ringers delighted audiences with their holiday musical performances. Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik The sweet and silvery sound of bells entertained many as the Castle Rock Community Ringers (CRCR) rang in the holiday season. The CRCR handbell choir is a nonprofit group that was formed 10 years ago to bring…

Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) fifth-grade students spent some time before the holidays making fleece blankets for the Linus Project. This community service project made soft, cozy blankets for children in hospitals. The students worked so hard and did a fantastic job to put a smile on someone’s face – while putting one on theirs too!…

By Terri Wiebold; photos courtesy of the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce They made their list and checked it twice, ensuring all the families who signed up for the annual Holly Jolly Breakfast were in for a treat during their special visit to see Santa and Mrs. Claus last month. The Castle Pines Chamber of…

Caption and photos by Lynn Zahorik The Village at Castle Pines hosted its annual Santa in the Pines event in early December, kicking off the holiday festivities in the community. With gorgeous weather and lots of fun activities – including carriage rides, caroling and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus – the event was the…

Pictured from bottom of stairs up: Diane Stavaski, Angel Resatar, Marylou Giampietro, Lin Giampietro, Michelle Loud, Lisa Bartmann, Susan McCauley, Alison Weiner, Stacy Gaines, Angela Williams, Christi Catalano. Not pictured: Lisa Adams and Alison Peery. By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photo The members of the Castle Pines Bunco group have been meeting for roughly 10 years,…

Electric pressure cookers are all the rage, and this particular brand, Instant Pot, topped the wish list for many this holiday season. Article and photo by Catalin Varela So you got an Instant Pot for Christmas…now what? The contraption has so many buttons and flashing lights it could probably launch to the moon. Before you…

Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Like a fresh coat of snow, the new year offers a blank slate. Now is the time for contemplation and simplification. Perhaps this year you’ve decided on resolutions pertaining to healthy habits or sticking to a budget. Maybe instead of formal resolutions, you’ve simply decided to be open to…

Information and photos provided by the Village Castle Pines Garden Club The Village Castle Pines Garden Club held its annual Christmas brunch on December 7 at Cherokee Ranch & Castle (CRC). It was a crystal-clear morning and the views from the castle were spectacular! The gorgeous Colorado morning set the stage for coming together with…

As academic and creative ambitions increase, more and more students are reaching out to peer tutors. Locally, a number of those reside in the Sapphire Pointe neighborhood, and they’re making a real difference in the lives of others. By Steve Whitlock; courtesy photos Community is what you get when a neighborhood comes together to help…

By Amanda Merriman To say that time moves fast is an understatement. As months and years roll by, I find myself wishing there was a way to (if not slow things down) at least remember the little things a little better. I always loved the idea of a diary but lacked the dedication to write…

Article and photos by Lisa Crockett It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and a big part of every celebration is food. My family has lots of favorites that we make year after year, but I’m always looking for new ideas, and when this little gem of a recipe caught my eye, I just…

By Daniel Williams Whole Foods will be opening a store in Castle Rock in early 2020. The natural-grocery supermarket chain has signed a 20-year lease for space in Promenade, the 166-acre retail development just north of the Outlets at Castle Rock between I-25 and Highway 85. Already in place at Promenade are well known brands…

By Patte Smith; courtesy photos When the holidays and hubbub are over, what do you do? Number one is rest. The hoopla and festivities are behind us and we start thinking about our New Year’s resolution. Eeeegad – forget the pounds you gained and focus on more fun with friends and family. The Colorado winter…

By Lisa Crockett ’Tis the season to be … busy. In a perfect world, holidays would come with extra hours in the day with which to create scrumptious goodies in the kitchen like elves in Santa’s workshop. Alas, we mere mortals are stuck with the same old 24 hours a day we get the rest…

As of Tuesday, November 27, statewide official results of the 2018 General Election can be found by visiting the Colorado Secretary of State website at results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/91808/Web02-state.222648/#/.  For local Douglas County General Election results, visit results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/Douglas/91828/Web02.222611/#/.

Article and photos by Nancy Koontz If you are new to The Village at Castle Pines, the Castle Pines Homes Association welcome group has a special event for you. Every quarter (February, May, August and November), the Association holds a new resident reception at The Country Club at Castle Pines. Guests enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres,…

Christina Kohl, a 17-year Castle Pines resident, returned to work after being a stay-at-home mom for 13 years. Kohl founded the Back 2 Work Club to provide resources and encouragement to others who want to return to the workforce after a career break. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Christina Kohl If you are a…

Article and photo by Catalin Varela The holidays are in full swing which means cookies, cakes, and pies are on every table. Unfortunately, for those of us with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities, this often means missing out on the sweet-tooth fun. Think again. I am going to share with you my favorite gluten (and…

By Patte Smith Colorado’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is a federally funded program that helps eligible hard-working Colorado families, seniors and individuals pay a portion of their winter home heating costs. If you, your family, or someone you are caring for, such as older parents, are struggling financially, you or they may qualify for…

Tina Hansen, Marketing Director By Elise Brassell; photos courtesy of Tina Hansen The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce is a member-based organization that promotes and supports local businesses. As part of the Chamber’s focus to make it easy for its members to successfully operate businesses in Castle Pines, the Chamber has welcomed a new marketing…

Article and photos by Patte Smith Fourth- and fifth-graders ran circles around each other hula hooping while they danced at the annual BRE Sock Hop. While no 50s or 60s music played, the kids twirled to the music of Juice Wrld and Fall Out Boy, among other new artists. Fifth-grade teacher Mrs. Parker was rocking…

Marion Dahlem (left), volunteer coordinator for the Help and Hope Center (Douglas County/Elbert Task Force) received socks with Susan Elizabeth Lee (right), co-founder of the Sock It To ‘Em campaign, which collects new socks for those experiencing homelessness. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Susan Elizabeth Lee It is through the community’s help that the…

Information and photos provided by Castle Pines Athletics The weather is a bit colder, and the comfort of your couch is where you are likely watching the NFL these days, but just a few short months ago, kids in Castle Pines representing teams from the NFL played for a Super Bowl championship of their own.…

Seventh-grader Matthew Hardin coordinated an educational class called “Stop the Bleed” for teachers and staff at RHMS as part of his Eagle Scout project. Information and photos provided by Michele Hardin Trauma is the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 46. The national average for emergency medical services response times is…

Information provided by the USPS and UPS We’ve all heard it: “…anything fragile, liquid or perishable …?” Can you legally mail alcohol? Cigarettes? Fruits and vegetables? These questions and many others about the prohibited and restricted items for shipment with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) are answered at www.usps.com/ship/shipping-restrictions.htm. All prohibited domestic items are also…

By Patte Smith Keep your brain active – that is the mantra as people age. Statistics reaffirm the importance for older adults to not only be active, but to also keep challenging their brains. There are many websites dedicated to the subject of lifelong learning and its benefits. For more than 30 years, Osher Lifelong…

With materials and instructions provided by Paint-A-Sign, participants enjoyed a fun and informative evening creating message signs. Information and photos provided by Julie Matuszewski Moms, friends and neighbors of Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) attended a “mom’s night out” fundraiser on November 7 with locally-owned and operated Paint-A-Sign (www.paintasign.com). Paint-A-Sign provided an enjoyable evening of sign…

Castle Rock resident and Zumba instructor Van Oberly knows the importance of creating fun celebrations in the classes she teaches. Article and photos by Barbara Neff Rumor has it that the average American gains ten pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Can this be true? According to multiple online sources, including nutrition magazine Real…

Congratulations to American Academy – Castle Pines elementary art teacher Kelsea Fischer for being named New Professional Art Educator of the Year for 2018 by the Colorado Art Education Association (CAEA). This award recognizes excellence in contributions, dedicated service, and professional achievements of outstanding CAEA members in the field of visual arts education. Award recipients…

By Nancy Koontz; photos courtesy of Carrie Brown The Village at Castle Pines Starbuck residents Shane and Carrie Burton met 20 years ago at a tire store in San Marcos, Texas while they were going to college, and sparks flew. Two decades later, they have finally “settled down” and tied the knot. It started when…

By Catalin Varela, photos courtesy of DCS Montessori Community lunch, an afternoon for students to gather and prepare a meal together, has been a DCS Montessori tradition for many years. This past community lunch brought an exciting change. For the first time since building a greenhouse, students were able to harvest the vegetables they grew…

By Catalin Varela Yes, absolutely! But cutting holiday trees kills the earth, right? Well, here are a few reasons why you should fall off the artificial tree bandwagon and consider a real tree this holiday season: First of all, they’re just so much fun to pick out! You can’t trade a trip to the tree…

By Patte Smith; courtesy photo “Magic on Mainstreet” is the theme for Parker’s Christmas Carriage Parade that will be held on Saturday, December 8 at noon on Mainstreet in downtown Parker. The small-town feeling of the parade brings back memories of simple Christmas joy. There will be horses on parade, horse-drawn carriages and wagons, a…

By Patte Smith As the holiday season winds down and the decorations get stowed, those who keep the tradition of a live tree have the choice to recycle them. Whether putting the tree curbside or taking it to recycle, here are some tips to follow: Remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, garland, plastic wrap, tree stands,…

The Rock Canyon High School junior varsity soccer team, including Mason Baker (left) and Jason McHenry (right), gathered at their coach’s home to make burritos for the homeless in Denver. The team distributed 1,200 homemade burritos in Civic Center Park. By Madison Merritt, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photo Volunteering is a big part of some…

Next time you see the bison herd at Daniels Park, check out their large shoulder humps. The hump allows the bison to swing its head from side-to-side to clear snow and graze on vegetation below. A bison’s winter coat is said to be so thick and well insulated that snow can cover their backs without…

By Daniel Williams; photo courtesy of www.cdc.gov Vaping among teens has reached the epidemic stage, according to national statistics as well as local narratives. At a recent Douglas County sporting event that brought together competitors from several of the area’s high schools, I spoke with parents and student-athletes alike who all agreed that vaping is…

By Amanda Merriman As we enter this time of year, thoughts often turn toward philanthropy. There are a myriad of options available to those considering donating. It can be a difficult and time-consuming task, deciding which charity to support. Luckily, I discovered DonorUp. DonorUp is free to download on iOS and Android devices. The creators…

By Terri Wiebold When you read The Connection newspaper every month upon arrival in your mailbox, there is hopefully something wonderful and nostalgic about the smell of the ink on the paper and the turning of the pages. But, did you know that The Castle Pines Connection also has a plethora of additional resources beyond…

Information and photo proavided by Rock Canyon High School A business start-up company at Rock Canyon High School wishes to create a feeling of belonging and togetherness. This sweatshirt was designed with the purpose of symbolizing community and supporting the Lauren Townsend Wildlife Fund at the Denver Foundation. Lauren was the first student to lose…

By Barbara Neff Six important changes are coming in 2019, which have already been announced by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Following the decade-long Great Depression, 1929 to 1939, the elderly in the U.S. were in particularly dire straits. The SSA estimated that by the early 1930s, more than half of Americans ages 60 and…

RCHS students and teachers traveled to Concordia Language Villages French and Spanish immersion camps in Bemidji, Minnesota in November to learn about the languages and the cultures of the countries. By Amanda Brauchler, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Alexis Savas A group of students huddled in the snow, bags in hand, in the unfamiliar…

Information and photos provided by Julie Matuszewski The spirit of Halloween brought ghosts, ghouls and little goblins flocking to Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) for Halloween Family Bingo night; an event organizers hope will become an annual happening. This scary-fun event was held Thursday, October 25 for TTE families and students, and featured a planned potluck…

SMFR firefighters from Station 39 partnered to help bring joy to children in need during the holiday season. They are pictured here with program organizer Louie Lee. Information and photos provided by Melanie Lee Last year, The Connection featured a story about Village residents Roger Ryman, Louie Lee and Rob Brooks and their efforts to…

RCHS media students toured NBC 5 Chicago and posed with anchors Allison Rosati and Rob Stafford during the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention. By Jana Seal, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Alex Shaffer On November 1, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) media students had the opportunity to attend the JEA/NSPA National High School…

Cast members of “Seussical” the musical at Rocky Heights Middle School took a bittersweet final curtain call on October 25. By Ava Dunn, RHMS student; photo courtesy of Thearin Pyeatte, RHMS student Crowded together, the company held their breath. This was an important day. They shuffled behind the curtain, keeping their voices hushed as they…

By Catalin Varela This past year was full of some really great books for our young adult (YA) audience. Here is a roundup (in a nutshell) of a few popular reads this past year. “I Have Lost My Way” by Gayle Forman Gayle’s novel follows three souls who are faced with adversity and challenge. After…

 By Amanda Merriman Connection writer Amanda Merriman admits she is hopelessly addicted to books. It has been this way nearly all her life. Every month she shares what she has been reading with the hope that others will share in the obsession too. The 1860s were a time of great turmoil. When I reflect on…

By Susan Helton Chabad Jewish Center of South Metro Denver 9950 Lone Tree Parkway, Lone Treewww.denverjewishcenter.com Chanukah Festival: December 2 at 3 p.m. (Family Sports Center and Lollipop Park, Centennial). Community Chanukah lighting celebrations: December 3 at 5:30 p.m. (O’Brien Park, Parker), December 4 at 5:30 p.m. (Eastridge Recreation Center, Highlands Ranch), December 9 at…

By Catalin Varela, photos courtesy of Buffalo Ridge Elementary Elvis and Bob Ross were in the building! Students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary were in the spirit with creative costumes for Halloween this year. Not to be upstaged, the teachers showed their creativity with a wide variety of characters, ranging from Cinderella’s fairy godmothers and Maleficent…

Pictured left to right: Leyna, Charlotte, Franca, Madilyn, Kendall, Ellie, Siri, Flannery, Lili, Raegan, and Elle. Information and photo provided by Jennifer Calvanese In a true collaboration with the community, the Brownies from Girl Scout Troop #65517, which includes girls from Timber Trail Elementary, Buffalo Ridge Elementary and Sky View Academy, collected and donated more…

By Elise Brassell The Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) brings together citizens in need, supportive nonprofit organizations and philanthropic donors to create a better quality of life in Douglas County. In support of its growth strategy, DCCF has added three community leaders to its board of directors, including Jody Soper, executive vice president of marketing…

By Michelle Post In this fast-paced world, it is important to stop, be still, and reflect. Unfortunately, reflection for many only involves a quick glance at the next task on one’s to-do list. If you are like me, and I hope you are not, I am always thinking ahead of what I need to do;…

Patte Smith, map courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Tromping through the forest, whether snowy or dry, to get the family Christmas tree is a memorable occasion. Pack a picnic lunch or bring a pot of chili and hot chocolate – this is an exhilarating outing for friends and family, but do not forget…

By Lisa Crockett ‘Tis the season to share your meals with others. If you are sometimes (or possibly always) happy to have others roast the bird and host the traditional gatherings that happen this time of year, be sure to have a few tricks up your sleeve for lending a hand. Here are a few…

By Amanda Merriman Sometimes expenses come up with friends or family when we are woefully ill prepared. There are also situations when it is easier for one person to pay the bill, rather than splitting the check multiple ways. This is where the app Splitwise comes in. Splitwise is a free app available to Apple…

Turkey hand pies Article and photo by Lisa Crockett I love Thanksgiving. I love a day devoted to gratitude. I love a day devoted to national pride. I love a day devoted to eating delicious, once-a-year treats. After weeks of preparing, planning menus, stirring cranberries as they stew on the stove, reviewing seldom-used recipes, and…

  Cherokee Ranch & Castle Executive Director James Holmes (center) pictured here with local artist Judy Bell (left) and Cherokee Ranch & Castle Special Events Coordinator Jane Hannen (right). By Terri Wiebold; photos by Nancy Koontz Fall is a glorious season, particularly in Colorado with the changing of the foliage and the ushering in of…

A beautiful hike up to Castle Rock on a sunny (albeit sometimes crisp) day is a great way to spend quality time with a loved one. Article and photo by Catalin Varela The leaves are turning, the snow is falling, and love is in the air. Don’t miss the opportunity to spend the most cozy…

By Daniel Williams Residents in the 80108 ZIP code are blessed to live in a beautiful natural surrounding, but a spree of recent incidents involving collisions between motorists and wildlife is a reminder of how close we live to many of our wilder, four-legged neighbors, including coyotes, deer, elk, bears and mountain lions. In light…