Read the stories from the latest issue:
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.…
By Joe Gschwendtner In May, I got another close whiff of Russia on the Curonian Spit in Lithuania. For those with a yen for history, Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave, surrounded by Lithuania and Poland. It is a heavily militarized, warm water port on the Baltic. It was also once Königsberg, home of the Teutonic…
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…
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…
Adventure high on the mountain By Michelle Post; courtesy photos Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park offers thrills, chills, oohs, ahhs and fun for all. Colorado has so much to offer, I never get bored living here. An excellent adventure for the whole family is the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs. It is 157.4…
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…
Giving locally matters By Elise Brassell; photos courtesy of the Douglas/Elbert Task Force When donating to a nonprofit organization, sometimes it can be hard to know whether the help is applied locally. But when someone donates food or other necessities to the Douglas/Elbert Task Force (Task Force), it means giving back to those in our…
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…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of the Castle Rock Journal John B. Karcher of Sedalia was a Frenchman by birth. A large landholder in Alsace Lorraine, he was politically and socially active and a 32nd degree Mason. In his late 30s he was expelled from France because of his anti-Napoleonic tirades. His property was seized…
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…
Information provided by the Douglas County Elections Office Castle Pines voters have three separate elections this year, beginning with the May special district elections, followed by the June primary election and the November general election. The May 8 Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) non-partisan regular election is about water solutions with a major TABOR…
Yearbook class period two (from left to right): Julien Bouquet (yearbook adviser), Kelsey Brown, Sydnee Nach, Kennedy Vasquez, Nicole Flocco, Selina Patel, Raegan Synk, Danielle Petteys, Natalie Bruce, Taylor Jeppson, Savanna Avery, Megan Williams, Bethany Detwiler, Jessica Wang, Avery Gibson, Cate Venable, Kylie Szilagyi and Maia Vernetti. By Kira Zizzo, RHMS intern writer; photos courtesy…
By Daniel Williams; photo courtesy of Barbara Neff If you happen to be out at one of the local restaurants on a Friday evening around happy hour, do not be surprised if you run across a large group of single baby boomers. They are easy to spot – they will be the folks born between…
Bridge Program Graybeal, Brittani Boyce, Logan Waggett, George Castle View High School Anderson, Mitchell Baca, Merissa Brodin, Rebecca Coney, Brenden Cover, Zachary Frandjian, Karina Frieling, Cassidy Gaede, Kaleb Hraby, Connor Jaten, Zoie LeVigne, Cristian Linder, Logan Little, Hannah Malone, Chloe Mueller, Anastasia Ruybal, Zackery Ryberg, Colton Rynearson, Jace Trost, Ryan Ugolini, Emma Varela, Catalin Vu,…
RCHS Destination Imagination team wins state and readies for global finals From left to right, Christina Kohl, Rock Canyon High School Destination Imagination Team Manager, Emre Diker, Gavin Geyer, both juniors, and Adam Kohl, a senior. The team earned first place at the Colorado Destination Imagination state tournament and will be competing at the Global…
Castle Rock’s Town Trolley will take passengers on a tour of historic landmarks on Saturday, May 5. By Elizabeth Wood West; photo courtesy of Castle Rock Historical Society and Museum May is National Historic Preservation Month. To celebrate this annual recognition, the Castle Rock Historical Society and Museum is inviting the public to hop aboard…
CPNMD lead water operator Cory Williams talks with Troop 65517 about the three feet of rock and sand used to help filter water. Information provided by the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District Eleven members of Castle Pines Girls Scout Troop 65517 working toward their “make the world a better place” petal took a tour last…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett One of the classic and repeated punchline topics on the beloved 90s sitcom “Friends” is the character Joey’s love for sandwiches. They are his favorite food, and across all 10 seasons, he can be found wolfing down a meatball sub or an Italian hoagie at inopportune times. It is…
Part three of three By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of Cherokee Ranch & Castle Much has been said and written of Tweet Kimball, Cherokee Ranch owner who died in 1999. What often remains uncaptured is her essence. At her very core she was a naturalist, appreciative and dedicated to her world of animals, the environment…
Members of the Rebel Service Club proudly posed with all of the blankets and towels they collected. Above inset: Communication is key in raising awareness, so students collaborated on a hallway display that encouraged donations. By Liz Rector; photos provided by American Academy Those who are not familiar with American Academy (AA) may not know…
By Michelle Post, Ph.D. Have you ever been expecting an important letter, but you never received it? Or were you waiting for a package, but the email notification said it was delivered? Thanks to advances in technology, there are gadgets, apps and services to help. Peekaboo, I see you (and can now talk to…
Article by Nancy Koontz; photo courtesy of René Green; pageant photo courtesy of Shelly Au On May 26, twelve contestants ages 60-95 will compete for the title of 2018 Ms. Colorado Senior America at the 24th annual pageant. Behind the scenes capturing the beauty of it all through the lens of her camera will be…
By Kathy Fallert; photos by Kathy Fallert and courtesy of Laura Mankin Buffalo Ridge Elementary held a birthday blow out on Saturday, April 14 in honor of the school’s two decades in action. Kids enjoyed playing games for prizes, silent and live auctions were held complete with a fast-talking auctioneer, and a delicious barbecue lunch…
Squires joined Representative Wist and his aide Patty at the speaker’s podium. Article and photos submitted by Emma Kate Squires, RHMS eighth-grade student Colorado’s Association for Gifted and Talented each year hosts a Legislative Day, held the Thursday after Presidents Day. This is a day when students identified as gifted have an opportunity to go…
Sarah Gonzalez sees no limits. “There’s no limits to where you can go, what you can do.” By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Sarah Gonzalez Castle Pines resident Sarah Gonzalez, better known as Sarah G., has had the passion to create since childhood. As a five-year-old, after listening to adults complain about their jobs at…
Rock Canyon High School students Ellianna Lederman and Brad Hansen and Holocaust survivor, Lone Tree resident Jack Adler (center). Article and photo by Daniel Williams On March 27, Holocaust survivor Jack Adler stood before a packed house in the auditorium at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) and recounted his story, a story he has told…
Coach Brian Tinker doing the honors at the ribbon cutting ceremony on April 12 in the brand new RCHS weight room with Coach A.J. Article and photos by Alec Sutula, RCHS intern writer “Let’s get to work. Hit the racks,” said Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) football coach Brian Tinker. This time though the atmosphere…
The last few months have been an exciting time of change and growth for The Connection. In addition to our new branding, which we launched in January, we have had several new talented individuals join our staff. Please join us in welcoming them. Visit www.castlepinesconnection.com/pages/staff/staff to read complete bios on all of our amazing team!…
Boasting 47 years of making a difference Article and photo by Barbara Neff Their motto used to be, “not your grandparents’ senior center,” but since opening in 1971, Castle Rock Senior Activity Center (Center) has changed much with the times, including their motto. Today their motto is, “loving life in the second half,” a thoroughly…
Information provided by the Denver Dumb Friends League Be part of the nation’s single largest dog walk and a Denver tradition by participating in the 25th annual Dumb Friends League Furry Scurry Saturday, May 5. The event takes place at Denver’s Washington Park and raises money to help the Dumb Friends League care for more…
The third-graders and their kindergarten buddies enjoyed “free-range” chick time. Article submitted by Kimberly Jester, third grade teacher, TTE; photos courtesy of Anna Mallinson On Valentine’s day, I surprised my third-graders with the ultimate Valentine and “winter-blahs” beater. We were chosen to be part of the Douglas County 4H/CSU extension chicken embryology project, and Mary…
The Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) will be holding its regular election on Tuesday, May 8, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ballots were mailed to all eligible electors in the CPNMD service area the week of April 16. Completed mail ballots must be hand-delivered or mailed to (and received) at the CPNMD office,…
By Michelle Post, Ph.D. Running a business can be overwhelming. There are many days that I feel like my business is running me instead of the opposite. I was at a conference recently and the speaker said, “You don’t have, because you don’t ask.” Ouch! We are living in a “collaboration economy,” there are plenty…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of the Bailey family Castle Pines Village has an abundance of super-moms. More than a few have put high voltage lives on hold for motherhood. But how many genuinely started at ground zero? Meet Yvonne Bailey. Are there other factors unique to her situation? You be the judge. Perhaps two-year-old…
Three year Castle Pines residents Josh Nowak and Jennifer Clayburn hosted an exciting party at the Byers Fire Station on April 15 where a car fire was staged to set the scene to reveal baby number five’s gender. Thirty guests, along with firefighters on duty and numerous passers-by, looked on as the colored water from…
Castle Pines residents Anna Mallinson (left) and Anne Necker (right) were among hundreds of neighbors who found treasures at the annual community book swap. Article and photos by Daniel Williams I have to admit something – I love the Castle Pines book swap. When April comes around, my heart skips a beat when I see…
By Amanda Merriman I love watching TED talks. It is fantastic to have access to videos of people sharing new ideas and ways of addressing issues. I recently listened to a TED talk about the creation of Litterati, an app that takes on the problem of litter. Jeff Kirschner noticed some trash in a creek…
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…
Information provided by Douglas County The Tax Work-Off program allows Douglas County taxpayers the opportunity to earn money as temporary County employees up to the amount equal to but not exceeding the property tax that is due and owing to Douglas County or the Douglas County Law Enforcement Authority on the County tax liabilities for…
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…
Alexandra Gray of Castle Pines Village is the Denver Ballet Guild’s first place winner, the recipient of the Florence Ruston Medallion, and has been selected to compete in the very prestigious USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS in June. Gray said, “I love to dance because it is a chance for me to step…