The Connection

Retired U.S. Army Captain Michael Sennett now enjoys the peaceful feel of Castle Pines with his wife, Janet, and mini-Labradoodle named Teddy. By Elise Brassell; photo courtesy of Michael Sennett Michael Sennett recalls being part of the U.S. Army during one of the most tumultuous eras of American history; the Vietnam War. “I deployed to…

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…

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…

  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…

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…

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…

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…

Nine-year-old Nathan Fields (front row center), pictured alongside his friends Molly Terry (front row, left) and Jack Dodge (front row, right) and his family and support team at Timber Trail Elementary School, presented the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) with a giant check for $4,798.01 – the proceeds from The Castle Pines Connection’s Chalk It…

The yellow line above indicates the widening area of RidgeGate Parkway that is planned to begin in early 2019. The road will be widened from Havana to the east boundary of the City of Lone Tree (blue area). By Patte Smith; map courtesy of the City of Lone Tree Traffic under I-25 and RidgeGate Parkway…

After following the leader as they cross Daniels Park Road, camera-shy turkeys dash into the brush when passersby stop. Article and photograph by Barbara Neff On just about any given midday, lucky sightseers along Daniels Park Road or Happy Canyon Road in Castle Pines will be treated to the turkey trot. Flocks of wild turkeys…

By Barbara Neff We avoid making a plan, and figuring out why is easy. No one likes to contemplate the end of one’s life. Even accepting the inevitability of it all, and even having witnessed how lack of a plan can wreak havoc on the lives of survivors, we stall and procrastinate and avoid, and…

By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Douglas County Office of Veterans Affairs This Veterans Day, we honor all the men and women, past and present, who have served our country in the armed services. On this day, we pay tribute to their strength and commitment to all of us and our country. Humbled by the…

The Berlin Wall, erected in 1961, fell in 1989. The Wall was actually two walls as depicted. Between them was a no-man’s land of mines, dogs, and machine guns. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner As discussed in part I of this series last month, Berlin is a favorite place; I go annually. The role…

By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Lisa Storey (pictured above), affectionately known throughout Castle Pines as “Mama Lisa,” opened the doors of ROUX World Kitchen to family and friends last month for a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce. Formerly Mama Lisa’s Little Italy, ROUX…

Turning both valves (pictured here in blue) perpendicular to the direction of a pipe will ensure the water flow from the pipe is off. If the valve is in line with the direction of the pipe, water will be flowing. Information and photos provided by South Metro Fire Rescue While usually applying water as a…

Information and photos submitted by Corin Meibos Buffalo Ridge Elementary held its annual 5K Fun Run on Saturday, September 29. Awards for school spirit and speed were awarded to various students.  Ronda Gutierrez held Rock Slide Training on Tuesday mornings before school during the month of September to help train students, staff and families. Everyone…

James and Melissa Coudeyras at James’ retirement ceremony on Pearl Harbor Naval base in Oahu, Hawaii. James served for 20 years and one day with much of that time as an information warfare officer. He retired as a commander. By Daniel Williams; photos courtesy of Melissa Coudeyras After serving twenty years in the navy, James…

Information provided by DCSO The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is holding its 14th annual Community Safety Volunteer (CSV) Academy to train citizens who have the time, talent and desire to volunteer by serving their community. The CSVs allow the DCSO to provide better service across the county. “We’re looking for individuals who actively want…

By Terri Wiebold; photos courtesy of Jim Mandeville, The Nicklaus Companies After living a life of remarkable accomplishments, businessman and philanthropist Jack A. Vickers Jr. passed away on September 24 at the age of 93. A Castle Pines resident for more than three decades, Vickers was the founder of the Castle Pines Golf Club and…

Article and photos by Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Kimberly McCarthy On September 28, 46 first-graders from Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) visited Legacy Village of Castle Pines to meet and share with more than 20 residents there. “We’re hoping to develop a buddy reading program,” stated Julie Schade, TTE first-grade teacher. “We thought it would…

Pictured right: Rocky Heights Middle School yearbook staff brought home the All-Colorado Award from Journalism Day at Colorado State University. Students from left to right (back row): Kaderia Barela, Kennedy Vasquez, Kelsey Brown, Anna Porter, Hailey Taylor, Raegan Synk, Annabelle Girard, Alivia Ball, Nicole Flocco, Sophie LeGrande, Rachel Cook, Jessica Wang, Maia Vernetti, Sydnee Nach…

Jim Worley, interim CPNMD district manager Information and photo provided by the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District During its regularly scheduled October board meeting, the Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD) Board of Directors named Jim Worley as its interim district manager. “Mr. Worley brings a strong depth and diversity of water and wastewater utility…

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. This month I had the treat of reading the memoir of Castle…

The Rock Canyon High School boys basketball team came together to support the Warren Village First Step house for women, painting a new basketball key and cleaning up the outdoor area for the families who are staying there. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Carin Kirkegaard When a project arose in September to paint a…

Erik Matoush performing jumps and tricks at Winter Park that he first perfects on an Olympic-sized trampoline. By Daniel Williams; photos courtesy of Linda Nyström Accounts vary on exactly when Erik Matoush began skiing. He says he was three years old. His mom, Linda Nyström, says he was four. What is not up for debate…

Residents interested in pursuing an appointment to fill a new vacancy on the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) Board of Directors may email a letter of interest and resume to District Administrator Janet Burnham at Janet@cpnmd.org. Please reference BOARD VACANCY APPLICATION in the subject line of the email. The current Board will publicly discuss…

Information provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Are you a veteran enrolled in the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system who still has not received your flu shot? The cold and flu season is upon us and the Department of Veterans Affairs has once again teamed up with Walgreens pharmacies nationwide to allow all…

Information and photo provided by Wanda Ford Wanda Ford with LIV Sotheby’s International Realty hosted the 4th annual document shredding event in the marketplace at The Village at Castle Pines in October with great success. Cars lined up to drop off boxes and bags of personal documents and papers to be shredded. Guests were greeted…

By Daniel Williams In 2007, my wife and I were living in Los Angeles and looking for somewhere else to raise our three-year-old child. We got out a map of the country and pondered our options. “How about here?” my wife said, pointing to Seattle. Her parents are originally from England and the rain reminded…

RHMS cross-country runners ran the Castle Pines Run Wild five-mile/5K race (from left to right): Kayden Glauser, Luka Schymik, Cale Maguire, Jessica Derickson, Julie Olsen (coach), Nico Wood, Drew Lukowski, Kendall DeFord, Nate Bolin, Logan Scheichenost and Logan Heppe. By Ryan Miller, RHMS intern writer; photo courtesy of Jeffrey Smith The City of Castle Pines…

By Patte Smith The Santa’s Sharing adopt-a-family program, organized by the Help & Hope Center (formerly the Douglas/Elbert Task Force), is asking the community to support families that need assistance during the holidays. Client families who are struggling the most are selected by case managers to receive assistance. Perhaps it is a single mom or…

Article and photo by Lisa Crockett It’s that time of year when I stock up on candy for little ghosts and goblins, where there is sugar in every nook and cranny of my life. It’s one of my favorite times of year, except that my initial supply of goodies for the trick-or-treaters has never actually…

Pino’s Italian Kitchen & Bar was overflowing with pride and patriotism as Castle Pines came out to support Pino’s Eat for a Cause 9/11. The fundraiser was a heartwarming occasion which benefited the families of fallen first responders. Lives were remembered and celebrated, while an abundance of personal stories and of memories from September 11,…

By Daniel Williams, photos courtesy of Jessica Lovitt At a recent event held at Cherokee Ranch & Castle, professional and amateur astronomers alike gathered to stare into the vast night sky. Looking through high-powered telescopes, they were able to see the four moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn and pick out vivid details…

Information provided by the Douglas County Kinship Navigator Program Are you caring for your grandchild, niece or nephew, cousin or other relative children in your home? The Douglas County Kinship Navigator Program works to support families who have taken in and are caring for a relative’s child. This collaborative program between Douglas County Department of…

Easy to whip up gluten-free/paleo sweet potato pancakes. Article and photo by Catalin Varela Gluten-free baking is both an art and a science, but definitely not impossible to master. With the chillier months upon us, don’t be afraid to experiment with the gluten-free world. If you aren’t gluten-free yourself, I’m sure your gluten-free friends/family/neighbors would…

Jaylyn (left) and Jolene (right) performing together in their team routine during national competition. By Elise Brassell; photos courtesy of Gina Luber In these days of gamified everything, it’s refreshing to hear about kids having fun and working hard away from screens and electronics. Jaylyn Luber (9) and Jolene Luber (6) of Castle Pines do…

Once weathered, buck and rail fencing blends nicely with its natural surroundings. Article and photos by Barbara Neff After more than two decades of planning, community input and phased improvement projects, it is the latest renovation to Daniels Park – the fencing – that seems to have residents talking the most. While some are relieved…

Information provided by the National Safety Council From ninjas to princesses, cheerleaders to football players, children love Halloween. Goblins, ghosts, Star Wars characters and Wonder Woman race up and down streets at night with family and friends gathering yummy treats. Remember, kids are excited and not paying attention, so you need to be their eyes…

TTE thanks the volunteer team who put it all together (from left to right): Lisa Massey, Jolene Richardson, Kristi Tomlinson, Kym Hay, Erika Greene (committee co-chair), Page Warnke (committee co-chair), Whitney Shank, Amanda Quam and Val McPheeter. By Susan Helton; courtesy photos 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the TTE Mother and Son Kickball Tournament.…

By Patte Smith; courtesy photo If you are a history buff, be sure to join the free walking tours of Cedar Hill Cemetery and Bear Canyon Cemetery. Both historic cemeteries, located in Castle Rock and Sedalia, are the resting grounds for many of the past pioneers and founding forefathers of the county. No tickets or…

Information provided by IREA Businesses served by the Intermountain Rural Electric Association (IREA) have recently been the target of scammers. Many of these recent scam attempts ask business owners to pay up front for new meters as part of an upcoming advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) project. Owners and customers can avoid falling victim by remembering…

By Michelle Post; graphic by Krysta Parr Are there toxic people in your workplace? You know the type – the ones who never have a good thing to say, who complain about anything and everything, who love to be miserable? I am sure you do, for it has been my experience they are in every…

Article and photo by Patte Smith As part of its speaker series, the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce hosted new Douglas County School District Superintendent Thomas S. Tucker, Ph.D. to discuss the facts surrounding the funding issues and the ongoing needs of the school district. The presentation was an open dialogue with the audience, as…

It was a beautiful and clear night under the stars on September 22 when nearly 500 residents and neighbors from Castle Pines gathered to take part in Movie at The Ridge – the perfect way to wrap up summer and head into fall. Many movie goers dined at The Ridge’s Parkway Grill before heading out…

Grills were fired up at Tony’s Castle Pines Market this fall as they welcomed in the chile roasting season. The heat was on as customers were greeted with the smoky-sweet smell of Pueblo green chiles roasting over a hot gas flame. Tasty chile samples were enjoyed by shoppers who picked up freshly-roasted and unroasted chiles…

Article and photo by Patte Smith South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) personnel – including firefighters, administrative staff and family members – collected a whopping $100,154 (not counting the change) for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Fill the Boot campaign over Labor Day weekend. Pictured above, they are gathered in front of the Castle Pines King…

Article and photos by Patte Smith; Photos courtesy of Jan Comstock People from all over Colorado follow the Douglas County Canine Rescue (DCCR) organization that is made up of volunteer foster dog parents. It is an eye opener to chat with these individuals who are committed to animal welfare so much so that they are…

    By Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of Jackie Brown-Griggs The leadership of Castle Pines Village publicly celebrated the rebranding of “The Village at Castle Pines” at a grand evening fete of residents at Sanctuary Golf Course last month. As a nearly two-decade Village resident myself, I welcomed the change. Having been built in the…

When a drilling site appeared on Monarch Boulevard just south of Rocky Heights Middle School, there was concern it might be an oil well. However, a project engineer confirmed it is a water well being drilled to connect to the Arapahoe Aquifer. Article and photo by Daniel Williams Our neighborhood celebrated its annual block party…

Glynis Albright featuring her first two retail products, Glynis’ Waffle Mix and Glynis’ Poultry Coating Mix. Coming soon will be a caramel spice syrup, French toast mix, seafood coating mix, sour cream biscuit mix, chicken batter, beignet mix … and much more. By Nancy Koontz; photos courtesy of Glynis Albright When 13-year Castle Pines Village…

Retired firefighter and Castle Pines resident Bill Schaefer believes in healthy nutrition as a way to prevent cancer and other health problems. Article and photograph by Barbara Neff For many, the chapters of life that include careers, the building of financial security and child rearing also include lack of time or energy to focus on…

Please help us congratulate the following National Merit commended scholars: National Merit commended scholars: Front Row, left to right: Avery Conte, Kezia Dick, Derek Chen, Matt Chen, Calvin Ewing, Dale Kim, Andrew Lee, Justin Olcott and Matt Carlson. Back Row: Jacob Carlson, Aubrey Stevens, Amber Liu, Sonia Chu, Anila Narayana, Gloria Lee, Alyssa Boback, Brittney…

Dorothy and Cully Dahlstrom just as in love after 70 years of marriage as on their wedding day. By Daniel Williams, photos courtesy of Diane Dahlstrom Johnson In 1962, Vail Ski Resort opened. A year later Cully and Dorothy Dahlstrom vacationed there from Chicago. They loved the area and began visiting annually, eventually buying a…

By Daniel Williams, photos courtesy of Kristen Narlinger On September 10, 144 golfers played a round at the Birdies for Butterflies Charity Golf Tournament held at the Blackstone Country Club in Aurora. As the golfers enjoyed a beautiful fall day filled with fun and laughter and the occasional amazing shot, they also had an opportunity…

Information provided by Laura Stadele and Julian Bouquet, RHMS teachers; courtesy photos The Castle Pines Connection is honored to have four Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) students working with us as interns for the 2018-19 school year. Our interns contribute stories and photos about happenings at their middle school. We would like to welcome our…

Caption and photos by Nancy Koontz The Village at Castle Pines celebrated the yearly Oktoberfest event on Saturday, September 15, from 3 pm to 6 pm at the Canyon Club pavilion. Residents enjoyed authentic German music, food and drink. They were encouraged to wear lederhosen and bring their favorite beer stein, and many obliged. Food…

Check out The Connection’s COMMUNITY Events tab on the home page of our website, www.castlepinesconnection.com, for a complete listing of upcoming events in and around the community. To request an event be added to the events page, email webmaster@castlepinesconnection.com. Additionally, each month’s E Guide insert includes a full pull-out calendar in the center. Check it…

RHMS cross-country runners were all smiles as they lined up at the starting line for the race to begin. By Lia Pirazzi, RHMS intern writer; photos courtesy of Julie Olsen On the morning of September 18 at 7:30 a.m., more than 50 people gathered on the Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) football field ready to…

Catalin Varela pictured in front of the school’s library. Article and photos by Catalin Varela I am going to school, but I very rarely GO to school. I mean, it is 2018! Education, just like everything else, is rapidly evolving as our society changes. In the past, it has always been assumed that one would…

Caption and photos provided by BRE The fifth-grade class of Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) took a student-wide favorite field trip to Young AmeriTowne. Before the trip, students learned about economics and the ins and outs of running a business. They all had a chosen “occupation” before arriving, and the students were in charge of running…