Read the stories from the latest issue:
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Castle Pines Athletics Castle Pines Athletics wrapped up another season of NFL Flag Football in Castle Pines. Season playoffs were held on Friday, October 20 and Sunday, October 22, with the top six teams advancing to the Super Bowl. On Monday, October 23, the top teams in each…
Information provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Life can change with just a moment’s notice, so it is important for emergency response personnel to be able to connect with residents during an emergency. To ensure accurate crisis communication with residents, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and all other Douglas County agencies utilize a mass…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Wendy Wilson This year, 10 Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) students participated in the Highlands Ranch Regional Art Show, which was held at Douglas County Libraries – Highlands Ranch. The annual show is a regional one, and only schools that are part of Highlands Ranch feeder schools are a…
Fitness 1440 owners (shown left to right) Vince and Jennifer Calvanese, Wind Dee and Russ Stallings, opened their new fitness club in Canyon Fitness’ former space in Castle Pines Village. Article and photo by Elizabeth Wood West When word began to spread earlier this year that Canyon Fitness Club was closing, club member Vince Calvanese…
Rocky Heights Middle School yearbook staff participated in Journalism Day at Colorado State University in October. Submitted by Kira Zizzo, RHMS student; photo courtesy of Julien Bouquet On October 19, young journalists from the Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) yearbook class attended Journalism Day at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. The field trip gave…
While compiling the list of our 2017 business partners, I was again reminded of how important the businesses are in this community and how far we have come together. Two of them, in fact, have participated in every issue of The Connection since its inception nine years ago – that is more than 100 consecutive…
Victor Mitchell By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of the Mitchell family Castle Pines Village (CPV) neighbor Victor Mitchell, a former state lawmaker from 2007 to 2009, is in the Republican race for Colorado governor in 2018. He seeks to replace current governor John Hickenlooper, who is term-limited. Mitchell’s history is one of hard work, a…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of RCHS Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) had 15 National Merit Commended Scholars. These students were in the top 3.3 percent of the 1.5 million high school students who took the PSAT. Pictured from left to right: Haley Mayr (CP), Yunho Jung, Luke Zhang, Kevin Huang, Shreya Nallapati, Peter Deckerman,…
By Michelle Post I love the written word. One of my favorite writers, Mark Batterson, in his book “A Trip Around the Sun” discussed the observation that children ask roughly 125 questions per day and adults ask about six questions per day. The result being that somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we lose 119 questions…
Information provided by the City of Castle Pines On Monday, January 8, the City of Castle Pines will swear in Tera Radloff as the community’s third mayor in the City’s young history (see related story page 40), as well as five new City Council members. Radloff will vacate her seat representing Ward 1 when she…
By Liz Rector Castle Pines is a sprawling community largely made up of families, and within this 80108 ZIP code, The Castle Pines Connection has met and featured many talented young individuals. starting in the January 2018 issue, The Connection will be featuring a spotlight each month on a “talented teen” from our area. You…
The Rock Canyon High School marching band smiles with their semi-finalist award after an exciting season. By Sarah Bermingham, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Suzanne Wilson The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) marching band ended its season with an impressive finish at the state marching band competition. Riley Busch, RCHS marching band drum major…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of DCS Montessori School A beloved DCS Montessori (DCSM) tradition, Mystery History is in its16th year and was held in late October. Each student in grades four through six researched a figure who made a lasting impression or an important contribution around the world ancient civilization to 1400 CE…
Information provided by E-470 In November, the E-470 board of directors announced a toll adjustment that would freeze rates for ExpressToll drivers on the 47-mile roadway through 2020, pending board approval. This means ExpressToll users driving E-470 will be able to lock in the rates they are paying today in 2017 through 2020. Additionally, the…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Tera Radloff On November 7 for the third time in Castle Pines history, a new mayor was elected. With 62 percent of the votes, Tera Radloff won the City election and replaced current two-term mayor Jeffrey Huff. Radloff, who moved to Castle Pines in 2003, has been a…
By Liz Rector With the holidays approaching, many are on the hunt for unconventional seasonal gifts. One gift that has become increasingly popular is the present of self-discovery. In the last handful of years, personal DNA testing has entered the mainstream, giving people unparalleled access to their genetic makeup. Nowadays, there are a variety of…
By Lynne Marsala Basche Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) third-grade students participated in a Project Based Learning (PBL) unit called “Putting the Pieces Together.” PBL teaches students to acquire knowledge and skills by investigating and creating solutions to real-world challenges. As part of the lesson, students became playground engineers tasked with modifying a playspace to meet…
By Lynne Marsala Basche At the beginning of 2016, The Castle Pines Connection began its Angels Among Us segment with a belief that nonprofit organizations strengthen our community along with faith in our readership and humanity in general that we all have talents to give. Each month, the paper featured a different Douglas County nonprofit…
Students work virtually with a scientist from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of eDCSD Because students learn in different ways and can need different environments to thrive academically, the Douglas County School District (DCSD) offers options to help families find the educational program best fitting their child. One…
A number of people from the 80108 ZIP code and surrounding area are turning to flight clubs in effort to earn their private pilots license. Some are learning to fly as a career choice while others are seeking an adventurous new hobby. Pictured above is 2017 Rock Canyon High School graduate Grace Beall, who began…
The Ms. Colorado Senior America Pageant is coming to the Lone Tree Art Center on May 26, 2018. Information provided by Shari Ortiz, MCSA vice president The Ms. Colorado Senior America (MCSA) Pageant is coming to Douglas County, and applications for contestants are now being accepted. The pageant will be held on Saturday, May 26…
By Lynne Marsala Basche We received a letter (above) to the editor regarding the November 2017 Lore article “Surrey Ridge: The rest of the story” and are publishing it to share with our readers. The Castle Pines Connection’s “Wildcat Lore” series began in September 2016, and the segment has become increasingly popular with readers. Each…
By Patte Smith Clever and fun event ideas never seem to cease at Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines. For 2018, a few of the very enthusiastic staff members joined together and designed a monthly, year-long program that will be launched in January – The Great Outdoors. Thought about keeping chickens? In February, learn how…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Anna Mallinson On November 15, the annual fifth-grade Thanksgiving lunch took place at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE). Approximately 200 parents and grandparents participated in the traditional feast with the students. Courtesy of the number of diners, the festivities expanded into the library and the central area of the…
Amie Chitwood of Castle Pines at the Adventure Unlimited Ranches in Buena Vista, CO. The organization operates summer youth camps, adult and family programs and a secular program called 100 Elk Outdoor Center. Chitwood shares stories about experiences participants have had in the programs as part of marketing for the organization’s Foundation. By Lisa Nicklanovich;…
By John Basche Officially November 11 this year, veterans organizations around Douglas County and the Denver metro area are hosting a number of events in observance and remembrance to honor those who have served in our armed forces. While for many of us Veterans Day has always been marked by a parade in our local…
By Daniel Williams; photo courtesy of Nanowrimo.org There’s an old saying, “Everyone has a novel in them.” In July 1999, Chris Baty and 20 friends decided to make that idea a reality when they sat down in coffee shops around San Francisco and attempted to write a novel in a month. Only a few of…
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Information provided by the Castle Pines Arts & Cultural Foundation The Castle Pines Arts & Cultural Foundation is excited to present a multi-media slide show presentation for the holidays by John Fielder on December 1 at 7 p.m. at the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District building, located at 7404 Yorkshire Drive, Castle Pines. “A Colorado…
A great place to unplug and unwind Article and photos by Susan Helton From Panorama Point Scenic Overlook, visitors have a spectacular view of 100 miles of the Continental Divide. The overlook is also a popular location for weddings. Just 30 miles west of Denver, off Highway 93 on Golden Gate Canyon Road, lies Golden…
Take a trip back in time to The Buckhorn Exchange, Denver’s Oldest Restaurant The Buckhorn Exchange opened its doors a few years back; 124 to be exact! Colorado’s most historic steakhouse, with the state’s very first liquor license, was established in 1893 by Henry H. “Shorty Scout” Zietz. Zietz was no stranger to some of…
Information provided by South Metro Fire Rescue Adult/Senior Driving Skills is a hands-on driving class, for senior citizens, and all other adults 21 and older who would like to improve their ability to handle challenging driving situations. Defensive driving skills and crash avoidance techniques will be taught. Students must have a personal vehicle to drive…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Rock Canyon High School Congratulations to Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) National Merit semifinalist scholars. From left to right: Castle Pines resident Olivia Voss, Nicole Wilking and Karen Yi are in the top scoring 16,000 out of 1.6 million students who took the PSAT NMSQT last year. (Dhivya…
Sphero is a robotic toy whose path and color can be altered by kids using the accompanying app, block-based drag and drop, or programming and writing their own code. Article and photos by Liz Rector Coding was once reserved for the technological elite. In the past, becoming successful at coding required extensive studying at higher…
The BRE Green Team recently received a partial grant from DCSD for its environmental efforts. The money will be used to purchase new automatic water sensors for all of BRE’s faucets. By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Corin Meibos The Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) Green Team was one of a small group of finalists to…
By Susan Helton Throughout the school year, Douglas County schools offer various opportunities for volunteering and otherwise helping out. Opportunities exist for those with a lot of time to give, smaller bits of time now and then, or donations, monetary or otherwise. For those who delight in coordinating fundraising or collection activities to support the…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of Amy and Dave Flanagan Last month, The Connection left readers with Arthur (Art) Ceresa and his wife Mary, “a gracious woman,” who slowly, shrewdly gained control of today’s Surrey Ridge area from the Schweigers and brothers Joseph and Alois Kroll at the astounding per acre price of $6.25. The…
Information provided by Douglas County Long-awaited improvements to Daniels Park Road began the week of October 23. A portion of the existing stretch of gravel within Daniels Park between Grigs Road and Castle Pines Parkway will be closed for the remainder of the year. Motorists will be redirected to Monarch Boulevard. When the project is…
Information provided by Douglas County Note that Colorado Elections are administered by mail only. Instead of casting your vote on equipment at a polling place, you will receive and vote your ballot at your convenience. You may choose to deliver your voted ballot by mail or save on postage and use one of ten convenient…
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. Taking a deep dive into the dark side of Manifest Destiny, I…
Information provided by TRICARE One of the ways we as a country take care of our retired military personnel is through continued health coverage and medical benefits, including TRICARE and TRICARE For Life. One of the often overlooked benefits of TRICARE for Life is the free delivery of medications to the address of your choosing.…
Castle Pines resident Lisa Voss caught one of the many rainbows that appeared on October 5 courtesy of the afternoon storms. This shot was taken from the 11th fairway at The Ridge at Castle Pines North. By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of Lisa Voss to those affected by suicide, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention…
Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner Superlatives today are not lacking. Everything is amazing, incredible, awesome, special or very unique, the latter actually impossible. But how about “paradise” as perfection, a place against which all other places on earth are measured …? Check your world map, and travel 900 miles east of Zanzibar and 600…
By John Basche For many of us, pumpkins on the stoop and falling leaves mark our transition to our holiday season preparations. However, for many Coloradans the start of November marks an opportunity to pause and reflect on loved ones lost. Officially November 1 and 2, Day of the Dead or “Día de Muertos” is…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Rock Canyon High School Castle Pines resident and Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) student Kylie Hutchison was selected to receive the prestigious Award of Excellence from the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. The award identifies high-achieving high school students with “outstanding academic achievement, leadership potential…
By Patte Smith; courtesy photo We all get caught up in the holidays – making recipe lists, deciding who is hosting Thanksgiving, cleaning the house, thinking ahead to Christmas and stressing out about who gets what – the list is never-ending. How about we put all of that aside for a few hours or a…
By Michelle Post; graphic by Libraryguides.mdc.edu With so much talk about “fake news” I thought it would be appropriate to write about a resource evaluation method, CRAAP, which stands for Currency (timeliness), Relevance (importance), Authority (source), Accuracy (reliability) and Purpose (reason). The method helps learners sort out relevant information from the sea of data on…
By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Corin Meibos Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) had some fun celebrating spirit week during the last week of September. Dress like your favorite teacher on Tuesday, September 26, had students and staff doing double takes as the dopplegangers came out of the woodwork. Second-grade teacher Terra Shaffner had her fair…
Information provided by Douglas County The Senior Property Tax Exemption for senior citizens was created for qualifying seniors and the surviving spouses of seniors who previously qualified for the exemption. Taxpayers 65 years and older as of January 1 of the year of application who have owned and occupied the property as their primary residence…
American Academy students at the Castle Pines campus gather to play together and demonstrate kindness. (Left to right): Neel Gowda, Cole Felton, Christopher Caid (CP), Nicholas Hartl and William Staab. By Liz Rector; photos courtesy of American Academy “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted,” stated famous Greek storyteller Aesop. Although…
RCHS senior Keeley Davis and her parents Erin and Chris Lane at the final RCHS home volleyball game celebrating Senior Night. Information provided by Rock Canyon High School; photo by Terri Wiebold Castle Pines Village resident Keeley Davis is a senior on the varsity volleyball team at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS), where she has…
The gift of a new bike is helping Brian to journey through life while trying to heal from a disruptive childhood. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Judy Carlson Often, social media platforms are used to complain, shame or spread a whirlwind of negativity. However, since a serendipitous meeting between Castle Pines resident Judy…
Information provided by Douglas County Government Veterans Affairs In 2006, Colorado voters approved an amendment and subsequent legislation that expanded the senior property tax exemption to include “qualifying disabled veterans.” For disabled veterans who qualify, 50 percent of the first $200,000 of actual value of the veteran’s primary residence is exempted. A disabled veteran exemption…
Pilates in the Pines owners Cathy Bosson (left) and Alana Norman (right) joined in the special invitation-only event. By Terri Wiebold; photos by Laura Gooding The October 16 “soft opening” of the new Trestles restaurant in Castle Pines Village offered a taste of the cuisine that patrons could expect when dining. The restaurant opened…
Castle Pines resident Steven Bullock proudly holds the National Certificate of Merit he was awarded. Article and photo submitted by Kira Zizzo On September 26, an event celebrating perseverance and hard work took place in the Rocky Heights Middle School cafetorium. This event, the Boy Scout Court of Honor for Troop 316, was truly captivating…
Back row, left to right: Madelyn Merrick, Gracie Schuster, Mia Siers, Samuel Shallow, Sarah Matarelli (CP), Griffin Toole (CP) and Kyra Brownlee. Middle row: Esther Jacob, Teagan Erdos, Jillian Axton, Arden Maersch, Chloe Wilks, Hailey Townley and Rebekah Jacob. Front row: Lola Claggett (CP), Kelly Sdrulla, Natalie Xikes (CP), Carly Inman (CP), Victoria Xikes (CP)…
Information provided by the USDA Forest Service Taking a family jaunt into the mountains can be a fun holiday outing for family and friends. The forest service has a few cutting areas set aside for Christmas trees here in the mountains of Colorado. Two fairly close Front Range locations to find the family tree are…
By Michelle Post Before exploring the two new generations, let’s recap the last seven months of generational research. A generation is defined as, “all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively.” And a generation can also be defined as, “people within a delineated population who experience the same significant…
By Michelle Post I received a handwritten thank you note after one training class, and I did not recognize the return address. I opened the thank you card and was overwhelmed by the words of the writer. He was thanking me for the class he just attended. It was not a long note, but it…
Mayor Pro Tem Tera Radloff and Councilman Geoff Blue. Article and photo by Lynne Marsala Basche On October 16, Castle Pines residents had the opportunity to meet the two mayoral candidates for the City, Tera Radloff and Geoff Blue. The meet and greet was held at Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines, and candidates were…
Tommy Matthews in front of a typical scene where soaked furniture and demolition debris is piled up in front of houses…block after block after block. By Daniel Williams; photos courtesy of Tom Matthews and Samaritan’s Purse When Hurricane Harvey made landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast, knocking out power, flooding homes, causing horrific devastation in…
As part of their Project Based Learning unit “Putting the Pieces Together,” TTE third-grade students became playground engineers tasked with modifying a play space to meet the needs of children with autism. Students presented their findings and suggestions to the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District and the Castle Pines Parks Authority in October.| By Lynne…
Respecting and honoring the sacrifices of many, the Conley family has four members whose love for our country has led them to serve in the U.S. military. They recently gathered in San Diego to witness and celebrate their youngest son Ryan receiving the title of United States Marine. Pictured left to right: Monique Conley, Lance…
By Lynne Marsala Basche You may be struggling. Someone you know could be suffering. In fact, one in five adults and adolescents will be diagnosed with a mental health issue in their lifetime. In 2014, after seeing a spike of various mental health issues in Douglas County, officials recognized the need to increase community mental…
By Lisa Crockett A special meal here and there should fit comfortably into almost everyone’s lifestyle. This time of year, though, it seems that there are special occasions several times a week. Here are some ideas for keeping holiday treats from derailing good health: Very veggie: Roasted veggies (think Brussels sprouts with pecans) need just…
Information and photos submitted by Beverly Coggins After more than a decade of hosting (and two years off due to health issues), Becky Cohen (pictured far left) and her den of friendly witches gathered back at Cohen’s home to usher in the Halloween season. Lively spirits (boos) were enjoyed by all. Becky Cohen in her…
A very cheerful Karen Weber, a public service technician for Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines sat in one of her favorite spots at the library, the upstairs patio on a sunny and breezy day. Article and photo by Patte Smith Karen Weber’s enthusiasm overflows when she talks about growing up in Douglas County and…
Information provided by Douglas County 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 veterans who are currently…
By Lynne Marsala Basche The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and the Douglas County Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition have teamed up to ask for help preventing teen substance use and the potential for teen-related DUI crashes and deaths. The Party Patrol will be in force during breaks and holidays when the likelihood of kids…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Laurie Jacobs Fall could not be ushered in without football games, pumpkin-flavored everything, colorful trees and, of course, the annual Turweston Lane Chili Cook Off. The eighth annual event was held September 24, and despite cold, rainy weather that forced participants to relocate to the HOA2 clubhouse, the…