Read the stories from the latest issue:
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…
By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of Stacie Chadwick Families, neighbors and local business owners all gathered on September 16 for the community Run Wild and new Family Fit Fest at Elk Ridge Park. Runners of all ages and abilities participated in the City’s seventh annual 5K and 5-mile runs, with the overall mens and womens…
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…
By Amanda Merriman Young adults everywhere are just starting their first semester at college, away from home. Umergency is an app that aims to ease the transition for students and their families. This app links students to critical resources as well as family and friends in the event of a medical or safety emergency. Umergency…
By Elise Brassell; map courtesy of Douglas County The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners (Board) is keeping busy evaluating proposals to continue growth within our county. In late September alone, the Board considered project plans for Sterling Ranch, Dransfeldt Road, The Pinery, Devil’s Head Metropolitan District, Rock Canyon, The Village at Castle Pines and…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of Our Heritage and People of Douglas County FARMING: Early pioneers had limited options for a livelihood. Most were in agriculture of some kind, as subsistence was the first order of business. Through trial and error, settlers found the workable methods, soil and water sources that could support their needs.…
Blind and adorable, this little black puppy (that does not look like it will be little when grown) went home with two loving older adults and their other dog, Frank Sinatra (pictured above left). Article and photos by Patte Smith In the July 2018 issue of The Connection, the article “Starting over with pets means…
By Lynn Zahorik The beautiful Charles Schwab conference center in Lone Tree was host to the second annual Senior Law and Safety Summit on September 15. Presented by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office the event was designed to help older people and those who care for them be proactive in protecting themselves against those…
Caped crusaders at large in the community By Elise Brassell; photos courtesy of The OathKeepers What do Chester Cheetah, Mr. Peanut and a high school mascot all have in common? Vinessa Olp, founder of The OathKeepers has portrayed them all. The OathKeepers is an all-volunteer, costuming for charity organization. Costumers for charity don costumes of…
By Catalin Varela Before your backpack turns into a black hole of despair and causes you a lot of pain, try a few of our tips to keep your load light and tidy. 1). Always pack heavy items closest to your body That way your backpack isn’t dragging you across the hallway floor. Pack your…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of J. Schmidt For many in Castle Pines Village, the large gated driveway below the I-25 intersection with Happy Canyon Road is a curiosity. From Country Club Parkway, one sees, well, maybe a mansion. I visited with John Schmidt, the owner, last month to get the whole story. His family…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of US Patent office and Douglas County Library History Research Section Willis Walker likely often lived in the shadow of his wife Sarah, known nationwide and internationally for her work with Colorado wildflowers. On closer historical inspection, we find that Willis was no shrinking violet. Born in 1858 and later…
Information provided by the Douglas County School District The Douglas County School District Board of Education (BOE) has authorized bond and mill levy override (MLO) questions for the 2018 ballot. At the August 21 meeting, the BOE unanimously voted 6-0 (director Wendy Vogel was absent) to place before voters a $250 million bond and a…
Jennifer Riefenberg from Castle Rock describes her art as “capturing the beautiful, one brush stroke at a time.” By Elise Brassell; photos courtesy of Peter Morales Not since Bob Ross painted his happy little trees have we had such an exceptional opportunity to see a painting take shape from blank canvas to work of art.…
Pictured above, left to right, front row: Melissa Coudeyras – mayor pro tem, City of Castle Pines; Tera Radloff – mayor, City of Castle Pines; Chetter Latcham – president, Shea Homes Colorado; Deborah Mulvey – city council member, City of Castle Pines; Marcus Pachner – The Pachner Company; Ryan McDermed – vice president, Shea Homes…
Information provided by RCHS; photo courtesy of Julie Dean Lamb Photography Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) staff recently welcomed Jaguars back to school (the majority of 80108 high school students are Jags) and the entire community is proud to celebrate excellence in academics, activities and athletics. This is only possible with hard-working, dedicated students, supportive…
“One hour per day of study in your chosen field is all it takes. One hour per day of study will put you at the top of your field within three years. Within five years you will be a national authority. In seven years, you can be one of the best people in the world…
The Goodman family found an incredible view at Veil Falls on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. By Daniel Williams; photos courtesy of Jason and Rebekah Goodman Jason Goodman grew up with a love of the outdoors. As a boy in Cheyenne, Wyoming, his dad would take him and his brothers camping, hiking, canoeing…
Information provided by Tri-County Health Department The final drive-through household chemical roundup this year will be held Saturday, September 29 at 175 Kellogg Court in Castle Rock from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Although the event is offered free-of-charge to Douglas County residents, participants will be asked for a $25 contribution to help offset the…
Article and photo by Barbara Neff Hiking this past spring in Douglas County’s beautiful Castlewood Canyon, I wondered for the first time why bristlecone pine trees, seen along many Colorado trails, seem to always grow in a spiral. I asked staff at the park and even made a few phone calls to local arborists. Though…
Castle Rock Adventist Hospital staff and guests celebrated the five-year anniversary in August at the hospital’s new Healing Garden. By Elizabeth Wood West; photos courtesy of Castle Rock Adventist Hospital Centura Health’s Castle Rock Adventist Hospital (CRAH) staff, patients and friends gathered in August at the hospital’s new Healing Garden to celebrate the facility’s five-year…
Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) junior Emily Wilding explored the small Moroccan village Zaouia Ahansal, enjoyed Chefchaouen, the blue city of Morocco and volunteered on a construction site in Zaouia Ahansal during a Moroccan service trip through Rustic Pathways. By Sarah Bermingham; photos courtesy of Emily Wilding While many students travel abroad over the summer…
A work of art created from nature Article and photo by Michelle Post I live in Monument and love the forests and mountains that surround me. I was surprised to learn that many of the places that I have hiked just miles from my home were home to Ute Indian Prayer Trees. The definition of…
Information and photo provided by American Academy Castle Pines Mayor Tera Radloff (left) joined Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock (center) and American Academy Executive Director Erin Kane (right) in greeting American Academy – Castle Pines students on their first day of school for the 2018-2019 school year. “It was truly wonderful to be able…
Information provided by DCS Montessori DCS Montessori (DCSM) is a public charter school in Castle Pines that implements the Montessori philosophy of education. The Montessori method of education, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, is a child-centered educational approach based on scientific observations of children from birth to adulthood. Montessori’s method has been time tested, with…
By Amanda Merriman I aspire to limit clutter in all aspects of my life. Email is one area that lags behind in that department though. It got to the point where it seemed like gremlins were reproducing uncontrollably in my inbox. I would inwardly groan every time I opened Outlook. I could have individually unsubscribed…
By Terri Wiebold; photos by Megan Hassler and Maddie Provost For the second year in a row, The Castle Pines Connection hosted Chalk It Up 4 Charity, an art contest where youth in the community gathered at Party in the Park (see related postings, Party in the Pines – Vino in the Village and Party…
Article and photo by Catalin Varela With the school year back in full swing, unfortunately the homework and tests are headed our way as well. Do yourself a favor and forget those 2 a.m. study sessions with a few of our back to school study tips. 1). Get school supplies you like According to USA…
Co-founder of the Taste of Douglas County, Mike Boyle (pictured third from left) and the team from Jersey Mike’s Subs take a break from the action during the 16th annual culinary event. By Elise Brassell; photo courtesy of Mike Boyle For the past 16 years, Douglas County restaurants of all sizes and cuisines have gathered…
By Patte Smith Autumn is a beautiful time of year with falling leaves, calm days and cool evenings. There are many activities that family and friends can enjoy before the snow flies. Fall festivals abound in cities and towns and Oktoberfest celebrations, steeped in the tradition of German music and revelry, mouthwatering food and hearty…
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 journey again to France with Ann Mah’s novel “The…
Photo and caption by Lynn Zahorik Mayor Tera Radloff welcomed community members to “Tuesday with Tera – Coffee and Chat” at Dazbog Coffee in late August. The gathering provided the opportunity for residents to ask questions and share feedback about what is going on in the City of Castle Pines. City Clerk Tobi Basile was…
Article and photo by Daniel Williams; photo courtesy of Heather Cotterman At an event in August to celebrate the opening of Sky View Farm Center for Learning and Therapy, owner and founder Wendy Ingraham got emotional when talking about the program, and for good reason. Ingraham had spent the past year following a dream of…
Fascinating rock formations, commonly called “hoodoos,” which are columns of soft rock capped by harder rock, adorn Daniels Park Road Photos and captions by Barbara Neff Douglas County offers marvelous sightseeing opportunities in every direction on virtually every road. Daniels Park Road is particularly beautiful. From strutting wild turkeys to soaring birds of prey to…
Information provided by Chuck Lowen On Thursday, October 18 from 8:30 a.m. to noon, join neighbors and business owners in the Pino’s parking lot to donate blood for a terrific cause – Children’s Hospital Colorado. Registration is recommended and spots are limited, so be sure to sign up early and make a difference in a…
Photos by Lynn Zahorik http://photos.castlepinesconnection.com/slideshow/2018/concert/index.html
By Lisa Crockett Harvest season is in full swing, and store shelves and farmers markets are chock-full of delicious goodies. Tomatoes, one of Mother Nature’s most precious treasures, though, will wane in quality as the month goes on. If you’re fortunate and end up with a haul of perfect tomatoes, consider yourself lucky and eat…
Surrounded by family, Douglas County Commissioner Roger Partridge accepted the “Code of the West” award from the Northwest Douglas County Economic Development Corporation. The award was given for the first time and will be given annually to a Douglas County community leader who exemplifies the values at the heart of the “cowboy way.” Article and…
Aron Bukary, RCHS student, running the ball during a rugby match for the Ranch Rugby program. By Alec Sutula, RCHS intern writer; photos courtesy of Aron Bukary Rugby can arguably be described as one of the most violent sports besides hockey or football. Hockey and football players, however, wear protective gear – from shoulder pads…
Information and graphic provided by the Tri-County Health Department Unwanted or expired medications are often a common sight in the medicine cabinet. Storing unwanted medications – prescription or over the counter – in the household can pose the risk of accidental ingestion, especially for children and the elderly. Traditionally, unused medications have been disposed of…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett I recently returned from a trip to Quebec, Canada. In addition to visiting beautiful churches, lovely gardens and quaint village streets, I spent a fair amount of time discovering the unique food of Quebec. Poutine – a satisfying pile of fresh French fries topped with gravy and cheese curds…
Joe Gschwendtner/author standing on parapets of Valenca’s 13th-century fortress. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner The Douro River valley is reason alone to visit Portugal in the fall. Terraced hills are necklaced with red, orange and yellowed leaves on vines grown heavy with grapes awaiting harvest. A bit of cheese, bread and last year’s vintage,…
By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of Isabella Schneider and Greg Smith Surrey Ridge neighbors gathered at the community park to meet Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies, including SWAT team members and emergency responders at the 2018 National Night Out event. “We were able to chat and have fun with these individuals who are citizens like…
By Barbara Neff Many middle-aged people across the nation and in our community have adult children living with them. Some adult children have continuously lived with parents through childhood into adulthood. Most, however, left for work or school and eventually returned to the homes of their parents, usually for economic reasons. According to a 2016…
Members of the CPV Green team, pictured from left to right: Josh Reel, Brad Smith, Mike Hance, Michael Shorts, Alec Wynne, Kevin Manion (Captain), Seshu Velpuri and Chad Williams. Not pictured: Dave Markowski, Darius Kerman, Matt Carlson, Carsten Hannen and Pete Rather. By Elise Brassell; photo courtesy of Kevin Manion Congratulations to the Mens CPV…
By Patte Smith with information courtesy of the Suicide Prevention Lifeline Volumes of information have been published about suicide, suicide prevention and the people who have lost someone to suicide. This information is vital and not to be ignored. We need to educate ourselves, our children, families and friends about the risk factors and warning…
Jana (second from left) and Fred (far right) Bartlit paused for a photo opportunity with Alabama members Teddy Gentry (left) and Randy Owen (third from left). Information provided by Maia Brusseau; Photos courtesy of the Dumb Friends League On Saturday, August 18, Castle Pines Village residents Jana and Fred Bartlit hosted the 17th annual Lulu’s…
By Lynn Zahorik; photo courtesy of Dave Celecki Members of the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) soccer team took on Grays Peak this summer as a team building exercise. The prominent 14,278 foot fourteener is the tenth highest summit of the Rocky Mountains and is situated on the Continental Divide. Fourteen soccer players were guided…
By Catalin Varela It can be quite the challenging balance to support and guide your student through academic success while trying not to seem “over protective” or a “helicopter parent.” But you have gotten them this far, so take a second and appreciate yourself for that! No matter the age of your student, there are…
BRE fifth-graders drew on the sidewalks leading up to the school on Tuesday, August 7 at the annual “Chalk Talk.” The messages welcomed BRE students back to school on Wednesday afternoon for a meet-and-greet event. At the meet-and-greet, several students helped distribute grade level T-shirts.
By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Jan Comstock Dog lovers unite! Drop into the new LIV Sotheby’s International Realty home at 482 West Happy Canyon Road on September 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and visit some adorable dogs that you can fall in love with and give them a new home. The annual…
Linda Sovich of Castle Pines says she loves her job of helping others get their lives in order through her company, Clutter Control. “Everyone wants an organized life, but when you’re busy living life, you don’t have time. I’ve seen the transformation of clients from being depressed to feeling great and living the life they…
Information and photo provided by Douglas County What if your smartphone was also your gateway to the real-time waiting room experience at Douglas County’s Motor Vehicle, Driver License, or Recording offices – before making the destination decision to renew your vehicle registration, your license, or your passport? With more than one million total customer transactions…
By Patte Smith Attention older adults and families with seniors … Get your party hats on to celebrate the accomplishments and positive impacts older adults have contributed to our community on National Senior Citizens Day (NSCD). This little-known holiday and world-wide celebration is observed on Tuesday, August 21. NSCD is a day to celebrate the…
The Connection account manager Lynn Zahorik and her husband, Steve, celebrated their wedding anniversary at Sierra in Lone Tree. We invite you to share your celebration pics with us, too!
Douglas County residents Tom Compher and Debbie MacCary are retirees who have structured retirement differently. Article and photo by Barbara Neff As the retirement option presents itself, some embrace it fully, some embrace it with modifications, and some avoid it altogether. Castle Pines resident Donna Wolf could be retired. However, she continues her career as…
Article and photo by Daniel Williams; photo courtesy of Douglas County As hikers, cyclists and tourists may have noticed this summer, much of Daniels Park, including the roadway between Daniels Park Road and Grigs Road, has been closed for improvements. According to Douglas County officials, the $3.6 million project includes “1.7 miles of realigned paved…
The Castle Pines Connection owner and publisher, Terri Wiebold (left), accepted the 2018 City of Castle Pines Partnership Award from Mayor Tera Radloff (right) at the July 24 City Council Meeting. Information and photo provided by the City of Castle Pines The City of Castle Pines presented The Castle Pines Connection with the 2018 City…
As part of their physical education, six-year-old Dominic (red shirt) and eight-year-old James Bogue enjoy climbing on rocks. By Susan Helton; photo courtesy of Imelda Franklin Bogue Home education has existed throughout history. Many well-known people were homeschooled, including John Quincy Adams, Louisa May Alcott, Venus and Serena Williams and Tim Tebow. Douglas County School…
Information and graphic provided by Susan Lee Susan Lee Resident Susan Lee (creator of the Sock it to ‘Em sock campaign) has again partnered with MiYO Cafe in Castle Pines Village to do great things and give away free stuff. For the first 40 families who have a preschooler age 2-5 that come into MiYO…
Roadside wildland fires pose a high risk in Douglas County. Although the cause is often times accidental from vehicles, the dry conditions cause the flames to spread quickly, sometimes endangering structures. Once a fire is extinguished, crews stay and ensure all the hot spots are contained, sometimes lasting several hours. Information and photos provided by…
Donna Gordon with a few of the many rugs she has made since 2001 using a traditional rug hooking method where the artist pulls fabric up through a backing. Varying in size and expression, the rugs add warmth and color to Gordon’s Castle Pines home. Article and photo by Lisa Nicklanovich When an artist who…
View of Mosteiro dos Jeronimos in the Belem district. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner Many tourists in Portugal don’t get much beyond Lisbon. For good reason. It is a welcoming city of cobbled street neighborhoods, hills, monuments, wide boulevards, arches and squares, rich in architectural delights. Aimlessly wandering alleys, boulevards and seven hills makes…
By Amanda Merriman On a search for apps that do not use Wi-Fi, I came across Lifeline. Lifeline is a text-based game with a branched storyline. The app costs $1.99 to download on Android or Apple devices (including the iWatch). However, my teenage son downloaded it previously, which allowed me to put it on my…
Outstanding scenery and room to breathe Article and photos by Susan Helton The wide-open reservoir and extensive shoreline at Eleven Mile Park offer plenty of room to play. Scenic vistas include a panoramic view from the western end of the lake. Boasting a variety of activities for the outdoor enthusiast, Eleven Mile State Park…