The Connection

Photographer Joe McDaniel captured the contrast between the rare leucistic deer and her brown sibling. By Barbara Neff; photos by Joe McDaniel When Douglas County resident, travel writer and wildlife photographer Joe McDaniel heard murmurs among neighbors this past fall that they had spotted a white mule deer fawn in the area of Tallman Gulch…

Christian Brothers owners Steve and Andrea Peterson (center) host a lunch every Friday for their employees. Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik Every now and then you come across business owners who truly have their heart in their business and are equally as invested in their employees. On Friday afternoons, Christian Brothers Automotive owners Steve…

Castle Rock Adventist Hospital opened its Healing Garden in June for patients and visitors. By Elizabeth Wood West; photo courtesy of CRAH Castle Rock Adventist Hospital (CRAH) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 19 in celebration of the opening of its new Healing Garden, located between the Alexander and Briscoe Buildings on the hospital’s medical…

By Terri Wiebold Vacationing this summer? While Colorado has some amazing adventures that are drivable, many of us take to the skies and travel by plane to our summer destinations. Security lines have become less-than-predictable and there is little worse than not clearing security in time to make your flight. There are lots of options…

Article and photo by Catalin Varela   With summer break upon us, teens in the 80108 area have buckled up and hit the road for summer fun activities. As the adult ultimately responsible for their actions, make sure you and your teen drivers are informed on the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws in Colorado. Though…

Article and photos by Nancy Koontz Once more, the Castle Pines Village Garden Club’s (CPVGC) annual luncheon and fashion show on May 11 was a sell-out success – standing room only. Held at the Castle Pines Golf Club, with its spectacular views, the event boasted 80 attendees. The weather was perfect on the day of…

Fourteen-year-old DCS Montessori eighth-grader Jaden Sherman was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her volunteer service at Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines. Information provided by Douglas County Libraries; photo courtesy of Jaden Sherman April was National Volunteer Month and Douglas County Libraries (DCL) honored its volunteers for their dedication to the library district…

By Amanda Merriman Summer is here, and that gets me thinking of concerts. As much as I love listening to live music, I find that I miss out on shows because I did not know about them or I heard about them too late. Bandsintown is an app I came across that keeps fans in…

Guest panelists at the Douglas County Community Foundation Focus Forward breakfast this year included, pictured left to right: Pamela Schenck-Kelly – Park Meadows Retail Resort, Michael Dunlap – Schomp Automotive, Karen “Casey” Cortese – Charles Schwab, and moderator Amber DeBerry – Douglas County Libraries. By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of DCCF On May 10, The…

Article and photos by Michelle Post I did not think I would ever say those words, “I inherited a dog,” but I do now. Tuffy Newman is his name, and he is a 12-year-old Pomeranian. He was the beloved companion of my Aunt Jean and Uncle Bob. It was not in my aunt’s final will…

By Michelle Post Social media must be strategic and tactical; however, over the last decade the mantra has been “be everywhere and post a lot.” This is not the case any longer. Instead, social media is an integral part of a business’ identity. It is a digital representation of its physical representation, both internal and…

Article and photo by Catalin Varela No ideas for Father’s Day? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Give dad a day he will remember with one of the following activity ideas: Pack a Picnic – If you have never explored Daniels Park, it is a piece of paradise right in our own backyard and one…

Pamela Hansum works with her miniature horse, Duke, to offer therapy and support to children. Article and photo by Barbara Neff I did a double take. Did I really just see a miniature horse standing at the Daniels Park trail head on the west end of Castle Pines Parkway? I whipped through the roundabout and…

Information and photo provided by the American Automobile Association CarFit is an educational program sponsored by the American Automobile Association that offers older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles “fit” them. The CarFit program also provides information and materials on community-specific resources that could enhance their safety as drivers, and/or increase…

Information and photo provided by the Town of Castle Rock After nearly 40 years of firefighting, Castle Rock Fire and Rescue Chief Art Morales is retiring.   Morales said he was blessed by his time in the Town of Castle Rock (Town) and has many memories to cherish as he enjoys retirement. Chief Morales was…

The Rock newspaper staff (top) and the Black and Gold yearbook staff (bottom) at Rock Canyon High School. The teams earned multiple awards from the Colorado Student Media Association’s Best of Colorado awards. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Kristi Rathbun Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) students on the staff of The Rock newspaper and…

Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik; photos courtesy of MidiCi Friends and family enjoyed the MidiCi Neapolitan Pizza VIP pre-opening tasting event on April 27. Guests were greeted by the entire staff who served up a sampling of MidiCi menu items, including a variety of wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, appetizers and house salads. Local owners Kelly…

Information and photos provided by the Castle Pines Metropolitan District As it does every two years, Castle Pines Village conducted an election for board members to serve its metropolitan district for a period of four years. Three of five board seats were up for election. Winners included Craig Sundquist and Richard Munday, both being returned…

The fourth-graders were not slackers in this year’s Math Olympiad. The following are fourth-grade students in the top 50 percent: Luke Houston, Selah Brown, Cooper Hibbett, Kailash Shenoy, Kiefer Duval, Sarah Jun, Lila Obrien, Emily Ruegge and Anderson Romero, pictured with Principal Veit. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Lisa Conner Buffalo Ridge Elementary began…

By Susan Helton; courtesy photo Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) choir members joined 10 other Colorado school choirs to sing the national anthem for “Choir Day” at the Colorado Rockies versus Milwaukee Brewers game on May 12 at Coors Field. This marked the second year in a row that the TTE choir sang at a Rockies…

Local residents in support of “the reform team,” as they called themselves, showing support in the days leading up to the recent Castle Pines North Metropolitan District regular election. By Daniel Williams; courtesy photo Residents of the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) voted down a ballot measure last month that would have authorized the…

The inaugural gathering of the Castle Pines Pistons in the Pines Car Show was snowed out on April 21 (Colorado you know), but the next day, with the sun shining, 60 awesome dream machines rallied for an impromptu car show in the Safeway parking lot. May’s Pistons in the Pines event was rainy, but it…

The whole fifth grade performed. By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Wendy Wilson With the student-selected theme of “Time Travel,” the Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) fifth-grade dance tradition continued this year, serving as the grand finale for the annual variety show in early May. “This was one of my most favorite parts of my fifth-grade…

Pictured above left are first-graders Leyna S. and Abby M., and above right are Kendall and Kayley McClarran with their mom, Michelle, all made sure to get their donuts before they were gone. By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Anna Mallinson On a chilly April morning, TTE students and moms gathered for the Donuts with…

Above left: The Peru Enrichment class (clockwise from top center): Oskar Trueman (grey CK shirt with blue and green hoodie), Victoria Mallinson, Karmel Behboodi, Jamie Horan, Keira Ruys, Savannah Hilgendorf, Cassidy Dobler, Connor Brown, Kayden Ozdemir, Cade Miller, Ty Sloan and Ryan Carlson. By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Anna Mallinson Early June sees 12…

Ellen Pals of Happy Canyon, local author and expert in creating celebrations. By Elise Brassell; photo courtesy of Michele Hafey Wondering what to do with bored kids on summer break, when family comes to town, or when friends visit? Local author Ellen Pals said, “Take time to celebrate!” She may just make you question all…

Information and photo provided by Buffalo Ridge Elementary Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) held its 7th Annual Science Fair on Friday, April 27. The science fair was open to all students at BRE. More than 60 students researched projects. BRE had an amazing day celebrating these young scientists as they presented their findings through demonstrations, experiments…

By Lisa Crockett It’s strawberry season. Through the miracle of the modern food system, of course, most consumers can get strawberries year round, but they’re hitting their peak ripeness in the next few weeks, which means they’re at their most tasty and least expensive right now. Here are some ways to make the most of…

By Elise Brassell; courtesy photo As the weather gets warmer and summer begins, thoughts often turn to vacations and reading a good book by the pool, far away from work, school and the bustle of everyday life. The thought of finding a good summer read made us at The Castle Pines Connection wonder, what does…

Information and photo provided by Carrie Manion The Castle Pines Village 3.5 ladies tennis team hosted a tennis social Friday, May 11 at the Canyon Club tennis courts to kick off the season. They enjoyed food, drinks and fun tennis that was open to all ladies that live in Castle Pines Village. The tennis activities…

By Patte Smith It is no surprise to the Castle Pines and surrounding area residents that Douglas County was recognized as the healthiest county in Colorado. With that in mind, tune up your bikes, put air in your tires, fill up your water bottles and join family and friends to celebrate Colorado Bike Month in…

Castle Pines Parkway in the City of Castle Pines was adorned with American flags, thanks to a partnership between the city and a patriotic resident. Article and photo by Daniel Williams; photo by Kathy Fallert When Michael Penny became Castle Pines city manager earlier this year, he wanted to understand the identity of the community. …

By Kathy Fallert BRE fifth-grade students shook, shimmied, hula-hooped, and back flipped their way (among many other things) to perform “The Evolution of Dance” on April 19 in the school’s gymnasium. Led by music teacher Cathy Deneault and P.E. teacher Ronda Gutierrez, the kids performed to a full house and displayed some star dancing and…

Information and photo provided by Arapahoe Community College Arapahoe Community College broke ground on its $40 million “Collaboration Campus” in Castle Rock last month. The project will consist of two 54,000-square-foot buildings on a 14-acre site in The Meadows, west of Highway 85 and northeast of Castle Rock Adventist Hospital. Joined by the Town of…

CBS4 Denver’s Lauren Whitney (left) presented RCHS student Molly Dolan the Future Leader in STEM award. Lauren McCaffrey (left) and Molly Dolan (right) holding test tubes with fruit flies from their research on type 1 diabetes at Rock Canyon High School. Article and photo by Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of CBS4 CBS4 Denver recognized Molly…

By Amanda Merriman I am a huge fan of author Lisa See. When I got her latest novel, “The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane,” I excitedly delved into it. She is a master of historical fiction and this is proven again with this book. This saga begins in 1988 in the remote mountains of China,…

Article and photo by Terri Wiebold Residents joined Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) Parks & Open Space Manager Craig Miller at Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines for part four of a six-part series on the principles of xeriscape. Miller has been presenting classes on xeriscape and landscape maintenance for the last 15 years…

Jack Gebhardt (left) and Maria Pangolos (right) both earned top honors at the DECA world championship. Rock Canyon High School students at the DECA world championship in Atlanta, Georgia. From left to right, back row: Maria Pangalos (CP), Sydney Nation (CP), Zander Robinett, Nidhi Unnikrishnan (Air Academy High School), Derek Chen (CP), Neeraj Dodda, Jack…

This aerial photo taken looking west shows the development progess happening in the City of Castle Pines on the east side of I-25. The grading is initial infrastructure for the first residential component of The Canyons, being developed by Shea Homes. By Daniel Williams; photo by Bob Wiebold Motorists roaring along I-25 might not have…

Explore scenic Rueter-Hess Reservoir from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 2. The reservoir will be open for hiking and paddling recreational opportunities. Guided hikes will be taking place every 60 minutes from 9 to 11 a.m. The hikes will be between 1 mile and 3 miles round trip. The guided hikes will be limited…

On a coastal night wade, DCSM eighth-graders used cast nets to pull some marine life from the Gulf. They pulled sand crabs, hermit crabs and ghost crabs to take a closer look. By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Rebecca Jones At the end of April and beginning of May, DCS Montessori (DCSM) seventh-grade and eighth-grade…

Caption and photo by Terri Wiebold Boy Scout Troop 826 led the Castle Pines City Council in the Pledge of Allegiance at the council meeting on May 8. Pictured left to right: Nathan Fields, Aiden Dexter and Quinn Polk. The boys stayed for part of the meeting to see “what these people do.”

Derek Chen and Charlie Fu sharing their knowledge with fellow students in a tutoring environment. By Catalin Varela; photos courtesy of Derek Chen Think back to your time in high school. Does it make your skin crawl with stress? Today, high schoolers have so many academic responsibilities it can be overwhelming to handle alone. Derek…

The Castle Rock Historical Society and Museum is looking for a few good people to join its board. If you can help in any of the areas, please consider joining this dynamic and important team. The board meets on the first Monday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge on Wilcox Street.…

Chelsea Gause Cheer, University of Colorado, Boulder Coach Amanda Mundaca said, “Chelsea is a competitive gymnast who made the switch to cheerleading this season, and we could not have been happier to have her. Her fun personality and exquisite tumbling will be an amazing addition to the University of Colorado Boulder all-girl cheer team!” Avery…

RHMS debaters at the national tournament (left to right): Carter McDonald (CP), debate coach Lynn Legg, Morgan Brent (CP), Frankie Stroud, Andrew Dupper (CP), Emma Kate Squires (CP), Mahika Anand, Allison Willner (CP), and Krish Kumar. Not pictured: Landon Hoffmeister. By Kira Zizzo, RHMS intern writer; photo courtesy of Megan McDonald Words roll off tongues,…

Article and photos by Lisa Nicklanovich; photos by Terri Wiebold and courtesy of Julien Bouquet The Castle Pines Connection joined in on the Douglas County School District’s Employee Appreciation Week to thank the teachers and administrators from all of our local schools who help with our stories in so many ways. Their support makes it…

Article and photo by Barbara Neff By 2030, a whopping 46 million drivers in the U.S. will be over the age of 65, which will represent 25 percent of the total driving population, according the American Automobile Association (www.seniordriving.aaa.com). In a comprehensive 2015 publication by Bruce J. Winick and Alina M. Perez, “Aging, Driving and…

The City of Castle Pines has approved the installation of two “crime fighting” security cameras at the major gateways into the city. The technology captures vehicle license plate numbers and checks if the vehicle has been reported stolen or if the registered owner has any outstanding warrants. By Daniel Williams; courtesy photo With the help…

Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Sometime this month, it’s likely that my oven will go on hiatus for six or eight weeks. I can usually be found at the backyard grill on a warm June day, making an effort to leave the heat and the mess outdoors where they belong this time of year.…

Lightning struck a home on Buffalo Ridge Way in August 2016, igniting a small fire along a roof joist in the attic. This image shows the mammatus clouds looming in the background. Information provided by Einar Jensen, SMFR Risk Reduction Educator; photo courtesy of Eric Hurst SMFR Since 2011, lightning has caused 38 fires in…

By Liz Rector; photos courtesy of DCSD In a grand room at the Hilton Garden Inn in Highlands Ranch, art created by students of all ages was set up on display for the Douglas County School District (DCSD)’s K-12 Visual Art Show.  The show took place April 6-9 and included art of various mediums.  Art…

BRE’s grant winning Green Team (pictured from left to right), back row: Braden T., Mrs. Jody Robinson, Mrs. Jennifer Romero, Mr. Jose Mendoza; middle row: Ben J., Liam A., Jackson C., Maggie B., Katherine S., Anderson R. and Blake C.; front row: Tatum H., Isabella W., Emma A., Jacob V. and Cash B. By Kathy…

Hadley Bess is hard at work on an acrylic painting depicting three coy fish swimming in and out of a circular pool of water. By Liz Rector; photos by Kelsea Fischer Bubbly and enthusiastic, Hadley Bess’ energy is one of positivity and happiness. A fifth-grader at American Academy Castle Pines, Bess’ artwork was recently featured…

Information and photos provided by DSC Montessori Every spring, the upper elementary students at DCS Montessori explore Colorado history, science and interests (CSI) in a presentation fair. The tradition began as a simple science fair and stayed so for many years, but five years ago it transformed into its current form. Fourth-graders study and present…

Information and photo provided by South Metro Fire Rescue The South Metro Safety Foundation Kids Fire Academy is a summer day camp experience where kids get a peek into a day-in-the-life of a firefighter and learn basic fire and life safety skills such as home fire safety, first aid and bike safety.                                                                    South…

Article and photos submitted by Valerie Miller, Surrey Ridge resident After taking my two older children on adventures one-on-one, it was my son Felix’s turn for an adventure with mom. In March, Felix and I set out on the California Zephyr from Denver to Reno, Nevada, a trip of about 25 hours. The sleeper car,…

Dr. Thomas S. Tucker is the sole finalist for the DCSD superintendent position.  He is expected to assume the superintendent role on July 1.  “It’s a distinct honor and privilege to help lead one of America’s finest – and I do mean finest – public school systems.  I give the community my promise – you…

Rock Canyon High School students enjoyed the many activities at the After Prom party that helps to keep kids safe the night of prom. Students wrote good wishes in the senior hall, gambled in the casino, played games, enjoyed food and won prizes. Above left: Abby Castro and Nick Janedis gamble in the casino at…

By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos April 11 was Spring National Signing Day for the Class of 2018 student-athletes. We congratulate the following 80108 student-athletes who have made the commitment to play their sport at the college level! Regis Jesuit High School Mariah Daley, lacrosse Sacred Heart University, CT Coach Kathryn Ames said, “I have only…

By Lisa Crockett Spring in Colorado is a fickle season, but this day at the halfway point between the first day of spring and the first day of summer offers at least the hope that consistent warm temperatures are coming soon. The celebration of “May Day” is largely a European phenomenon focused on traditional rites…

View of the Intercontinental Express that travels up to 120 mph. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner Among my age group, river trips in Europe are the rage. It is the safety and convenience of it all. Passengers are pampered – never having to move luggage with touring options available at each port. Personally, I…