The Connection

Amara Brueck (left) and Ava Ziehwein (right) are two of the culinary students working with guest Chef Chuck Stober from the Escoffier Culinary School in Boulder. Dishes will include all local and farm-fresh ingredients, and there will be vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Submitted by Kira Zizzo, RHMS student; photos courtesy of Kelsey Brown and…

By Michelle Post Generation Z was the youngest generation until recently when Generation Alpha was named. Generation Z represents 23 million Americans. There are several discussions about the birth years for this generation. Most studies agree this generation started in the late 90s, but disagree when the generation birth year ended. For our purposes, the…

Article and photo by Nancy Koontz From Seattle to Everett, Washington to Whitefish, Montana to Enumclaw, Washington to Castle Pines, to East Bay to Dublin, California to Portland, Oregon – and back to Castle Pines, life has been an exciting adventure for Todd and Debbie Broderick. Todd started as a courtesy clerk for Safeway when…

Douglas County School District Interim Superintendent Erin Kane spoke to residents at the Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines about the school district, its challenges and solutions to these challenges. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Nate Jones On September 6, Douglas County Interim Superintendent Erin Kane shared her thoughts about the school district…

By Patte Smith; courtesy photo On October 14 from 4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., tour the historic grave sites in Cedar Hill Cemetery with members of the Castle Rock Historical Society (CRHS) who will portray some of the local people in our past history. Cedar Hill was founded in 1875 and contains the remains of…

Captions by Lynn Zahorik; photos courtesy of CSU Athletics and Castle Pines residents Many Castle Pines families traveled to Fort Collins this fall to enjoy the much anticipated new Colorado State University football stadium. Students, alumni and parents enjoyed watching the Rams in action at the state-of-the-art stadium on campus. The new $220 million stadium…

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 shifted gears and read an inspiring memoir, “A Dream…

Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Home canning is a throwback to a time when more of us grew our own food and prepared for a season (like winter) when produce might be hard to come by. Like many things from yesteryear, canning is labor intensive and fraught with the possibility of failure. Still, home…

Linda Treibitz Some of the best local and national talent present short stories during “Stories on Stage”. By Nancy Koontz; photos courtesy of Linda Treibitz Linda Treibitz and her husband Alan, residents of Castle Pines Village, say one of their key passions in life is enjoying and supporting the theater and the arts. Their enthusiasm…

Participants from the National Sports Center for the Disabled learned golf skills at Sanctuary golf course as part of the 30th Annual Hal O’Leary Golf Classic in July. Information and photo provided by Maria Miller The National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) hosted its 30th Annual Hal O’Leary Golf Classic at Sanctuary golf course…

Front row: John and Karla; back row, left to right: Dylan and Morgan (20), Skylar, (18) and Zoe (22). By Elizabeth Wood West; photo courtesy of the Tartz family You may know them as your next-door neighbors, or your kids’ friends, or your mortgage broker, or your local post office store owner – the Tartz…

The orange line represents Daniels Park Road, and the other colors show the different family properties. By Joe Gschwendtner In examining the checkerboard map of Wildcat Mountain homesteaders, an urge springs within to generalize. Many like to draw conclusions to explain what was seen and experienced. By 1900, most of our geography here had been…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce As of August 1, the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce has a new place to call home. The organization relocated from its space near the former Safeway store to another convenient location at the Coldwell Banker Castle Pines building on 482 Happy…

Information provided by Parker Arts An informative discussion on the Rueter-Hess Reservoir will be held on Tuesday, October 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the PACE Center in Parker. Susan Saint Vincent, president of the Rueter-Hess Recreation Authority, will present the history of the Recreation Authority, the regional partnership and how the project has developed until…

Bernie, the Colorado Avalanche mascot, got the under 10-year-old participants ready with stretches and antics before the kid’s fun run. Article and photos by Lynne Marsala Basche August 20 was a gorgeous morning to welcome runners and walkers of both the human and canine variety to Washington Park in Denver for the Cancer League of…

Information provided by Douglas County More than 67,000 students have returned to school in Douglas County, and whether they walk, bike, skate, or drive to school, it takes everyone, including those driving in the vicinity of schools, to ensure they get there safely. The Douglas County School District encourages students to walk, bike or bus…

Pictured above left: 2017 CCCP scholarship recipients included (from left to right): Matt Hoffman, Candace Rawson, Reese Hummel, Kristen Thomlinson, Erika Freisner, Ryan Jackson, Erin Hinderliter, Jared Brack, Randi Couch, Jordan Stevenson, Ben McGraw, Paul Gibson, Averie Rice, Jason DesVeaux, Lucas Goodiel, Isai Leyva-Arcos, Sara Rawson, Alli Lane, Roma Roth, Ryan Simpson. Recipients not in…

By Kathy Fallert If you’re looking for some fall fitness, check out the upcoming September runs in the Denver metro area. For more information visit www.runningintheusa.com. September 2 Wildcat Mountain 10K/10M Trail Race Highlands Ranch September 3 Fall Six Pack Series – Highlands Ranch 5K Highlands Ranch September 3 Platte 5 & 10 Series 10K,…

Casidee Gonzales with some of the students at a small village in the mountains of El Savador. “I asked to take a picture with one of them and the other four ran up to join us, they were so excited,” she laughed. By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of Casidee Gonzales Casidee Gonzales had an experience…

These fairy tale characters have almost succeeded in their quest for a happy ending: Little Red Riding Hood and granny played by Rebekah Jacob and Samantha Leeman, Rapunzel (sans her long hair) and her prince played by Victoria Xikes and Tate Murphy, and the “mysterious” baker’s father played by Jared Engerman. By Lynne Marsala Basche;…

A young man smiles as he picks a book in braille at the Colorado Talking Book Library. By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of the Colorado Talking Book Library For many of us, reading is second nature. We flip through our mail when we get home, shuttle the kids to the library after school and at…

An aerial view of the whole complex looking northeast with the north part of the Inn cut at the left edge of picture. Note the two-bay garage and outbuilding on the south side, both still standing today as is the white clapboard family home. By Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of the Hill family collection, Douglas…

Evan (left) and dad Jim (right) after the Play 60 Character Camp pictured in front of the Broncos Super Bowl 50 monument commemorating their win against the Carolina Panthers. Inset: Denver Broncos mascot, Miles, was on hand to sign autographs at the Play 60 camp last month. By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos The Denver Broncos…

The Rock Canyon High School cheer team, coached by Amanda Mundaca, volunteered at the Food Bank of the Rockies to organize and sort food for families in need, and to bond as a team. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of RCHS cheer team The cheer team of Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) came together August…

Neighbors Josh Gonzales (left) and George Botsonis (right) met in the Surrey Ridge park to get started on the neighborhood cleanup. To participate in Surrey Ridge’s next event, email Josh at joshuamiguel@yahoo.com. Treats are always offered for those who volunteer. By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Josh Gonzales A few times every year, several residents…

Dan Wise as a boy, pictured top left, and his family in 1949.  Top right, Dan Wise, age 75 By Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of Dan Wise Neighbor Dan Wise of Happy Canyon made a career in clinical social work and is on the cusp of a Ph.D. I asked how he came to dedicate…

The RCHS varsity level volleyball team at the University of Northern Colorado Greeley team camp, which took place July 20 through 22. Pictured top row left to right: Sophia Sobota (CP), Abbey Lehigh, Abi Leitner (CP), Madison Wurst, Macy Rushall and Rachel Schutte. Middle row left to right: Laryssa Myers (CP), Keeley Davis (CP), Alex…

The Clark family: Twin boys Asher and Braxton with parents Adam and Sarah are residents of Buffalo Ridge Estates. By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos Adam and Sarah Clark, residents of Buffalo Ridge Estates make a great team. Adam is a developer who builds houses, including their own home in Castle Pines. Sarah recently joined forces…

  Article and photo by Lisa Crockett It’s harvest time, and after a trip to the farmers market, my kitchen is a veritable vegetable wonderland. Zucchini and eggplant are sliced and roasted, corn is slapped on the grill and given a slather of butter and a sprinkle of salt. Carrots and cucumbers just get sliced…

  By Michelle Post The Pew Research Center (PRC) is a leading expert in the tracking, analyzing and reporting of data and how it affects an individual. The PRC has been tracking peoples’ internet use since the early 2000s and has reported a significant rise in its use. Every day at least 9-in-10 adults use…

On August 21, Douglas County students and residents flocked outdoors for the partial eclipse. Events were held at schools and the Castle Pines branch at Douglas County Libraries. With glasses in hand, for close to three hours, skywatchers saw a breathtaking sight of the moon slowly passing between the Earth and the sun, blocking approximately…

Carter Brand competed at the Youth Triathlon National Championships at the Ohio event in early August. Brand finished with an impressive eighth place in the competition, which showcases up-and-coming triathletes. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of William Oliva Castle Pines resident and Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) sophomore Carter Brand competed at the Youth…

“You’re talking about a younger generation, Generation Y, whose interpersonal communication skills are different from Generation X. The younger generation is more comfortable saying something through a digital mechanism than even face to face.”   – Erik Qualman By Michelle Post Generation Y surpassed the baby boomers in 2016 as the largest living generation in America…

The RCHS mountain biking team became an official club sport last year, allowing players to earn a varsity letter. Along with neighboring high school teams, RCHS is part of the Highlands Ranch Cycling team, which creates a level of camaraderie often not seen in competitive sports. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Deschane) By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Created in the 1980s, National Night Out (NNO) is an annual campaign designed to encourage and promote police and community partnerships. The event began as a way to bring neighbors together with each other, as well as with their local police departments. This…

Future Financial Planning for a child who has special needs A free educational presentation organized by the Douglas County Special Education Advisory Committee (DCSEAC) for families with children with special needs will be held on Thursday, September 7 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Rock Canyon High School. Two knowledgeable and professional women who…

The Dream Team at Buffalo Ridge Elementary raised $325 during their “Wear a Hat to School Day for a Dollar” program. The money went toward purchasing an adaptive bike for local resident Kian Lame. Article and photo by Nancy Koontz; photo courtesy of Valerie Miller In April, The Connection shared the story of a 16-year-old…

Church attendance for the grand opening was around 1,100 adults and kids. Going forward Journey Church will offer three Sunday services. By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of Journey Church A joyful congregation celebrated Journey Church’s grand opening on Sunday, August 13 with bounce houses for the kids, a dunk tank and plenty of good eats.…

Alberta Development is requesting the Town of Castle Rock annex 21.7 acres of property on the east side of I-25 (across from its mixed-use development Promenade at Castle Rock) for Promenade Center East, a proposed new project that could include 475 multi-family units and/or 300,000 square feet of commercial development. By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy…

A standing-room-only crowd turned out for the 15th annual Taste of Douglas County on August 17. Participants sampled food from more than 40 restaurants and enjoyed live cooking demonstrations. No one left hungry! By Kathy Fallert; photos provided by Ed Wilkes, GearsetMedia The Douglas County Events Center at the Douglas County Fairgrounds was a buzz…

Dubbed the “Chalk Talk” event, roughly 35 fifth-grade BRE students came out on Wednesday, August 9 to chalk up the sidewalks with welcome messages and school spirit on the night before the school’s first day. Article and photos by Kathy Fallert Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) parent Katie Abner wanted to come up with a way…

By Lynne Marsala Basche When Dakota Wadsack, a sixth-grade student at Sage Canyon Elementary, noticed her 7-year-old brother Jordan choking on a piece of hard candy and he was unable to breathe, the young girl leaped into action and used the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training she learned while in third grade through an innovative program…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of the DDFL On Saturday, August 19, Castle Pines residents Jana and Fred Bartlit hosted the 16th Annual Lulu’s Barkin’ BBQ and welcomed 530 guests to their home for a good cause. Lulu’s BBQ benefits homeless pets and horses at the Denver Dumb Friends League (DDFL). The evening included…

DCSM students got to stand on and move around the National Geographic Traveling Colorado Map while learning mapping skills. The 20’ x 50’ map of Colorado travels the state and is a way to introduce geography and map reading skills to students in an entertaining way. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of DCS Montessori…

Janna Robinett, a business teacher at RCHS, received the Junior Achievement Teacher award in June. By Maria Pangalos; RCHS intern writer;photo courtesy of Janna Robinett Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) business teacher Janna Robinett received the 2017 Junior Achievement (JA) Teacher award at the Denver Country Club on June 22. Stephanie Murphy, senior program manager…

By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of Jeanne Gormley and JJ Rose Jeanne Gormley, a resident of Surrey Ridge, won first place for her photo in the senior division at the 2017 Douglas County Fair. The photo (pictured above) is of Gormley’s daughter Jeanna Ambrose and Cecilia Fries, Ambrose’s granddaughter. Photographed from behind a curtain, the…

|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. Natasha Pulley’s novel, “The Bedlam Stacks” was released on August 1. It…

Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Grilling really is the perfect way to prepare food. It’s fast, it produces delicious results and it cleans up with a minimum of fuss. The moment the mercury on the thermometer rises above 75 degrees, the grill is my go-to for delicious and fast meal prep. All summer we…

Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik Underneath the blanket of blue skies and mild temperatures, area runners took stride on the golf paths of The Ridge at Castle Pines North golf course for the inaugural “Run The Ridge 5K” event on Sunday June 25. Nearly 100 runners of all ages enjoyed the rare opportunity to…

Diagram (from Nasa.gov) showing the Earth-sun-moon geometry of a total solar eclipse. By Lynne Marsala Basche; courtesy photos On Monday, August 21, enthusiastic skywatchers in North America are in for a treat; a total solar eclipse. During a solar eclipse, the moon slowly passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking all or part of…

WFS President, Ranee Wilson (right) pictured with Jon Hulme (left), operating partner for Kneaders in Lone Tree. By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos Wholesome Food Services (WFS) began six years ago as a grassroots efforts of parents and nutrition experts in Colorado to offer a convenient and unique lunch program for schools. Their mission is to…

By Amanda Merriman During the past few years, the idea of mindfulness has been omnipresent in our culture. For instance, there is a pilot program on mindfulness for students and teachers at Bear Creek Elementary here in Douglas County. Workplace wellness sessions can be found in many businesses, and classes geared toward aging gracefully through…

Squire in front of the Taj Mahal in India as part of Semester at Sea. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Sydney Squire Sydney Squire of Forest Park set sail in January for a journey that would last more than 100 days and take her to 13 countries. Squire is a nutrition major at the…

A bento box lunch is both tasty, beautiful and anything but boring. By Lisa Crockett It hardly seems possible, but this month school is back in session. Laid-back meal schedules and snacking with no particular agenda is out, and structured mealtimes are back in. It’s not all bad news. A little planning and creativity can…

By Patte Smith The Castle Pines community has many homeowner associations (HOAs) and each one handles trash removal and recycling independently for its members. There are three primary waste companies serving the City of Castle Pines and the communities of Castle Pines Village, Happy Canyon, Surrey Ridge, and other unincorporated areas in the 80108 ZIP…

Information provided by Douglas County School District This is the ninth year of the Douglas County Educational Foundation (DCEF) Lend A Hand Back 2 School Supply Drive. Last year’s effort provided more than 1,500 students with supplies ranging from crayons to composition books. Supplies were collected by 60+ organizations and individuals who contributed to the…

The Shuster family may be the only known case in which a married couple has FSHD on both sides of their family. The couple is involved with the FSH Society and are planning the second annual Walk and Roll to Cure FSHD on September 9 at the Philip S. Miller Park. By Lynne Marsala Basche;…

Article and photos by Patte Smith Surrey Ridge sometimes feels like small-town USA, which is a good thing. Neighbors are friendly and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere at many of the events held at Surrey Ridge Park. On Sunday, July 9, car guys and gals showed off their classic and snazzy vehicles at the third Annual…

National Senior Citizens Day recognizes positive contributions senior citizens make in communities across the U.S. The day was also created to bring awareness of social, health and economic issues that affect senior citizens. Former President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Senior Citizens Day in 1988. It is always celebrated on August 21, which is…

Typically, people think about donating items to food pantries during the holiday season, but summer months find families in need of nutritious food as well. As part of the 9Cares Colorado Shares program, Bringing Hope to the Table boxes can be purchased at King Soopers stores (pictured right), including the location on Lagae Road in…

Maria Pangalos and other exchange students from around the world with the local AFS volunteers breaking fast in the city of Kuala Lumpur in Dataran Merdeka (freedom/national square). During the month of Ramadan, nothing should enter the body from dawn until dusk, so coming together to break fast is a special celebration. Article and photos…

Castle Pines teenager Taylor Rae recorded seven new songs this spring in Nashville. She also made a music video for her single “13 Stripes and 50 Stars,” — to check it out, visit: www.officialtaylorrae.com. By Lisa Crockett; photos courtesy of Taylor Rae Local musician Taylor Rae got her start in performing by singing the national…