The Connection

The Hardin Family moved to Castle Pines Village in July 2014.  The kindness and generosity of the community have surrounded the Hardins with love as they learned of Michele’s recent cancer diagnosis.  Michele and David pose with their children Kate, Luke, and Matthew. By Amanda Merriman; photo courtesy of Amy Caroline Photography For Michele Hardin,…

Article and photos by Amy Shanahan The Rotary Club of Castle Pines (RCCP) held a reception at the end of November to thank all of the wonderful members of the community who contributed so much to their organization in 2015, in ways both big and small.   Attendees enjoyed food and wine and mingling prior…

Boosterthon staff held a high energy pep rally in the BRE gym as a segue to their Big World Recess fundraiser. Article and photos by Kathy Fallert It was a cold and drizzly day on October 30, but that did not stop Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) students from hitting their biggest fundraiser hard.  Boosterthon was…

By Lynne Marsala Basche The idea is simple; give where you live.  For the past six years, the Community First Foundation and FirstBank have teamed up to promote philanthropy in Colorado.  Colorado Gives Day, which begins at 12 a.m. on December 8 is targeted to increase online giving to local non-profit organizations. The Community First…

These residents who are classically trained musicians from the band Proper Scarlet performed at a Halloween party at the Daniels Gate Clubhouse on October 30. By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos Husband and wife team Christian Lowsley and Julia Brochey, residents in Serena, have joined with Esperanza resident Brian Levy to form the trio Proper Scarlet. …

Team 5 in the research biotech class at Rock Canyon High School (left to right):  Veronica Pestolski, Katelynne Wilkins of Castle Pines, and Sarah Childs, prepare to study the effects of blue light on zebrafish embryos as part of a real-world scientific experiment. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of RCHS Imagine a high school class…

Architectural drawing of the RidgeGate parking garage and bus transfer facility. By Patte Smith; map courtesy of the Regional Transportation District (RTD) The new 2.3-mile extension of RTD’s Southeast Light Rail is currently being designed and will be built by Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Inc. (BBII).   RTD’s board of directors awarded the $140 million contract…

By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Kurt Kaczor After several months of having an interim director serving the Douglas/Elbert Task Force, Kurt Kaczor has been appointed the new executive director of the organization.  “I am very pleased to join this organization that has such a rich history of community support,” said Kaczor.  “The Task Force…

Mrs. Shaffner’s second grade class had a blast presenting Castle Pines past, present and future during last month’s showcase.  Left to right: Jake Pocock, Cooper Hibbett, Daxs Shoenbeck, and Dylan Laity. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Michele Laity and Meghan McDonald Friday November 13th was not so unlucky for students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary…

The Brent Lail Memorial Tennis Challenge was held October 24-25 in Castle Pines Village to honor a dear friend, family man and teammate.  Lail passed away unexpectedly in May.    He is pictured here with his dear sons, Garrett, Brandon, and Evan who are now 13, 15 and 18 respectively. By Elean Gersack; courtesy photos The…

Caption and photo by Lynn Zahorik Castle Pines resident Blakelee Guest is the assistant store manager of Bath and Body Works, one of the many stores at the Outlets at Castle Rock.  Blakelee finds great joy in helping customers discover that special gift from the store’s unique collection of products.   If your holiday shopping…

Connection writer Amanda Merriman admits she is hopelessly addicted to books.  It has been this way nearly all her life.  Every month she will share what she has been reading with the hope that others will share in the obsession too. When it comes to Donna Tartt’s most recent (and Pulitzer Prize winning) book “The…

Members of the Castle Pines Junior Youth Group took part in the Justice Run at Hudson Gardens on October 4.  The event supported efforts to fight human trafficking.  This is just one of many service projects the youth group supports. Yasmine Lamé, the group’s leader, is pictured third from the left, and her brother, Kian,…

Jimmy Dozer is pictured here in front of the building housing his new studio in The Village at Castle Pines. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Jimmy Dozer and his photography studio have been fixtures in The Village at Castle Pines (VACP) for the past 11 years.  Dozer is well-known throughout the area for capturing…

Information and photo provided by Douglas County School District On November 12, the Douglas County School District (DCSD) will host a one-night-only School Choice Fair to help parents better acquaint themselves with the many educational options available within the Douglas County School District. The district embraces parent and student choice by offering a wide variety…

Castle Pines Village resident Mike Lanam enjoys making larger than life-size characters which he displays in his backyard for the holidays.  Lanam is seen here with his son Brennan alongside his bike-riding grim reaper which is featured each Halloween. By Amy Shanahan; photos by Amy Shanahan and courtesy of Mike Lanam Kids and adults alike…

The eighth grade Rocky Heights Middle School football champions switch out football pads for ties as they pose for a yearbook photo. The eighth graders made Douglas County history when they closed out the season with an 8-0 record.  By Amanda Merriman; photos courtesy of Maggie Bell, Emma Goble, and Michael Knoebel The eighth grade…

John “Alto” Altomari began the meeting by explaining Aktion Club accomplishments worldwide while Kiwanian Jack Zelkin and Sue Evans stood by.  There are more than 400 clubs in eight countries with 12,500 members that volunteered 185,000 hours and generated $115,000 to donate back to the community. Article and photo submitted by the Kiwanis Club of…

Information and photo provided by Valor Christian High School The United States Department of Education announced in September that Valor Christian High School (Valor) will be one of 335 “exemplary high performing” schools receiving the 2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award.  Valor is one of six schools in Colorado receiving the award, and is the…

Information provided by Douglas County Douglas County reports that as of October 1, there were a total of 224,956 registered voters for the upcoming General Election on November 3.   Of those, 44,471 were Democrats, 104,150 were Republicans, and 76,335 were listed as other.  Make sure your vote counts and ensure that all mail-in ballots are…

In early October, the Rock Canyon High School (left) and Regis Jesuit High School (right) girls varsity and junior varsity softball teams held their fourth annual “Catch for the Cure” game in support of breast cancer awareness.  The two teams raised more than $3,200 which was donated directly to The Jill Lamb Foundation, a local…

Tracey McCarthy, Erica Westphal, Lisa Wiggins (Team Captain), Tanya Hunter, Natalie Vickers, Courtney Mendell (Co-Captain) and Beth Markowski.  Not pictured, Penny Spencer and Gina Lurie.  By Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of Larry Bundy Castle Pines Village tennis continues to deserve accolades.  Most recently, the Women’s 2.5 Red Colorado Tennis Association (CTA) Twilight Team won all…

By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos September 24 was a beautiful fall day as Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) hosted its annual Field Day themed for Super Heroes.  There were multiple stations for the kids to rotate through which included a giant inflatable obstacle course, water balloon toss, Nerf archery, and potato sack races. Organizer and P.E.…

Article and photo by Riley Busch, RCHS intern writer With the start of fall at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) comes the start of many clubs and extracurricular activities.  Among those, the RCHS Sources of Strength (SOS) club has started up again for a great year.   SOS is a national organization with clubs in…

Article and photos submitted by Steve Apodaca Alexis Apodaca, 13-year-old resident of Buffalo Ridge Estates, won her second Championship of her young career, this time at The Track at Centennial.  In one of the most competitive classes in the region, Alexis won the nine race series among some of the best drivers in the region…

Matthew and Tyler Cohen take a break from the Fall Festival activities to enjoy some ice cream. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori School With a nip in the air, DCS Montessori School (DCSM) ushered in fall along with all the fun a new season brings.  The yearly tradition of the Fall…

By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Jacqueline Shuler Jacqueline Shuler, an accomplished artist and teacher, won first place in the professional division in painting with her original digital painting “Mountain Majesty” at the National Arts Program Front Range art exhibit presented by the Greater Castle Rock Art Guild. “I couldn’t believe it!” exuberantly stated Shuler. …

Tasha Frye was thrilled to design all of the floral pieces for an upcoming wedding design book.  The photo shoot for the book took place at the beautiful Domaine des Evis which Frye described as “an amazing gem of a property with gorgeous French country grounds and a beautiful restored stone chateau.”  By Amy Shanahan;…

Article and photo by Amy Shanahan; courtesy photo Castle Pines resident Jeff Genuario spent the past thirteen years driving past the Big O Tires shop on Castle Pines Parkway, and often thought “wouldn’t it be great to have a store right here in my own community that my family has grown to love being a…

Craig practiced many, many hours leading up to her performance; here she is wrapping up a dress rehearsal. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Michelle Craig and Cindy Kessinger If it is a Bird Girl you seek, look no further than down the street.  Kaitlyn Craig of Castle Pines dances, acts and truly shines. …

CanyonQuests for Vets (CQV) is a nonprofit organization founded earlier this year by high school teacher Brian Wood.  CQV honors veterans and provides socialization and a reconnection to civilian life through three-day canyoneering excursions.  These adventures not only bring the veterans outdoors, but also get them utilizing skills learned in the military such as teamwork,…

By Amy Shanahan; photos courtesy of  Pam Caruso Castle View High School (CVHS) is excited to invite the community to Be Our Guest as they present the musical version of the well-loved story of “Beauty and the Beast” as their fall musical.  The show brings together over 90 students who play a part in this…

Mainstream Boutique owner Dawn Johnson is excited to open her second location of this popular clothing boutique in the heart of Castle Pines Village.  Husband Lance has worked tirelessly to renovate the space to make it warm and appealing for their grand opening this month. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Women of all ages…

RHMS “chopped” the competition during the district sponsored Cafeteria Wars competition. By RHMS eighth grade student Sophia Sobota; photo by Amy Shanahan; courtesy photo Three teams from schools in the Douglas County School District, four mystery ingredients, and various pantry items … did they succeed or did the challenge overcome them? Led by teacher Julie…

By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of Greg Hernandez After attending the Ruby Trust release party last month in Castle Pines Village, Greg Hernandez and his wife Becky (pictured above center with signed magnum of wine), returned to the winery the very next night to purchase more wine.  “My wife is a bit of a wine…

Paul Dannels Article and photo by Terri Wiebold Members of the Castle Pines Metropolitan District gathered with family, friends, and community members at The Country Club at Castle Pines last month to celebrate the illustrious career and retirement of Paul Dannels, manager for the District since 1982. Metro District Board President Joe Gschwendtner shared several…

LTAC Publicity Chairwoman Gayle Spelts (left) with residents Pam and Jim Kelly at the Opening Night Gala. Pam Kelly is the Executive Manager of Park Meadows Retail Resort, which was one of the Gala sponsors. Kelly remarked, “This was a great event and Park Meadows Retail Resort looks forward to sponsoring this event again in the…

CSU graduate and 2013 Mountain West Volleyball Player of the Year Samantha Peters (left) gives play-by-play and color commentary for SIS volleyball.  She is pictured above with Northern Colorado Sponsorship Director and play-by-play commentator David Haase (middle), as well as Producer Randy McCoy (right). By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Phil Mildren Phil Mildren, owner…

  Best Chili By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of Laurie Jacobs Neighbors on Turweston Lane in HOA2 gathered on September 20 for the 6th annual chili cook-off.  Keeping true to tradition, “best of” prizes were awarded for the tastiest grub. Thanks to a few of the younger Turweston Lane residents, Syndey, Samantha and Emma Kate,…

Junior varsity doubles player Erich “lefty” Nuss was thrilled with his team’s first place win for Regis Jesuit High School at the 5A state championships last month. Freshman varsity doubles player Evan Nuss and his partner placed second for Regis Jesuit High School in the number three doubles spot at the 5A state championships last…

Chef/Owner Eric Robbins carefully instructed his students to prepare and cook a squash stuffed with pancetta, apples and walnuts. Article and photos by Adriana Hakes Why is it that no matter what type of gathering is happening at someone’s house, people always seem to be drawn to socializing in the kitchen?  Perhaps it’s because the…

By RHMS eighth grade student Rin Wallace; courtesy photo The 22nd of September seemed like a normal day for your run-of-the-mill students, but not for the Nighthawks of Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS).  In the eighth grade Explorers wing, Ms. Holmstad’s language arts classes had the opportunity to hear Tanya Lee Stone speak to them. …

Broncos player Bryce Jurin (front center) celebrated his team’s win with his parents and brother after the game. The Bills bench was ever-ready to go for the next play. Article and photos by Elean Gersack It was a super season for kids in the Castle Pines Athletics NFL Flag Football program.  On Wednesday, October 7,…

By Patte Smith When children think about Christmas they get excited and happy – making a list of toys or technology they would like to have, and teens wanting to go to the mall.  Parents start planning the Thanksgiving Day dinners and holiday parties – it is a very festive time of year. Our community…

By Lynne Marsala Basche The holiday season is an excellent time of year to look for ways to give back to the community or to reevaluate how to make an impact in others’ lives.  Struggling is a reality for some people, and in the spirit and season of giving, here is a small sampling of…

The annual Rock Slide Fun Run had over 300 participants this year.  Co-chair Katie Abner commented, “It was wonderful to see kids and adults exercising together! We observed kids encouraging and pushing their parents and vice versa throughout the two course options.  The endorphin rush contributed to happy spending at the fall book fair!” BRE…

The list of distinguished Douglas County veterans engraved on the Veterans Memorial will grow as five new names are added this Veterans Day. Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik Nestled in the trees of the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Castle Rock is the majestic Veterans Memorial.  Built and erected in 1992, the black granite memorial…

Fire personnel participated in the stair climb, dressed in full turnouts and gear. Castle Pines residents Lisa Voss and Laura Zeh join the many at Red Rocks Amphitheater for the annual 9/11 climb. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Laura Zeh and South Metro Fire Rescue firefighter David Freyta Everyone recalls where they were…

Charlie and Lynn Green of HOA2 have been married 58 years.  They are hopeful of finding a kidney donor for Charlie so they can do and see much more in life – including traveling to visit family, friends, and foreign exchange students they hosted over the years.  Their dogs Tucker, Claire and Riley keep them…

Submitted by the City of Castle Pines Commercial Truck Traffic – At a recent City Council meeting, staff discussed truck traffic in Castle Pines. Castle Pines has the legal authority to regulate traffic on local streets and the existing traffic code addresses commercial vehicles.  However, enforcing regulations can be a challenge and residents have reported…

By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Jen Smoldt The Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) garden boxes had been sitting empty and overgrown with weeds for about a year when parent Jen Smoldt inquired about being a classroom garden volunteer for her daughter’s third grade class last year.  Smoldt had previously been a garden volunteer a couple…

Article and photos by Amy Shanahan Castle Pines residents are in for a treat as a new restaurant is moving into The Village at Castle Pines.  Danielle’s is owned by father and son team Danny and Vinny Pisarra, and is sure to become a local favorite. The restaurant, which held a soft opening in September,…

After a fire destroyed RHMS math teacher Chris Noren’s apartment, her school community rallied to support her. By RHMS student Zoe Zizzo; photos courtesy of RHMS student Molly Mceowen, and Jack Ryckman August 15 was like any other day for Chris Noren, a new sixth grade math teacher at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS).  Noren…

Article and photos by Amy Shanahan Local winery Ruby Trust Cellars held its annual release party and open house on August 29 and 30 and received rave reviews from the approximately 450 people who visited over the course of the two-day event.   Castle Pines Village residents Basil Badwan and Rose Martinez attended for the…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of DCS Montessori DCS Montessori (DCSM) was awash with gold event t-shirts, colorful face paint, crazy hair, and lively banners as more than 600 participants ushered in the fifth annual Cougar Fun Run last month. Students, faculty, staff, parents and volunteers took part in DCSM’s largest fundraiser of the…

The OrCam device lets users with sight difficulty enjoy reading a newspaper independently. OrCam translates the words on the pages of a book by audibly speaking them to the reader.  Article and photos by Adriana Hakes Low vision and blindness affect more than 108,000 Coloradans, a number which is growing yearly with our aging population. …

RHMS Nighthawks Trevor Fearon, Carter Brand, Caleb Jaramillo, Anthony DiMuria and Derek Fearon at the completion of the Douglas County Cross Country District Championships.  Fearon, Brand, Jaramillo and Fearon are part of the varsity team that won their division.  (Not pictured: Jack Hibbett, Wesley Beckham and Carson Timmons). By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of…

By Patte Smith

Wahoo!  Drew, Larson and Cameron Cooke take on a Keystone Mountain snowstorm this past March.  Winter will be here soon, so get your ski passes ready to go and have a blast on the slopes this season! By Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of the Cooke Family Epic Schoolkids Colorado Pack New this year is the…

Castle Pines residents Jennifer and Craig Loucks (left) and Angela and Rob Greenhow (right) had a fantastic time at the Urban Nights event where the theme for the evening was #grateful. (Photo courtesy of Westword Magazine). By Amy Shanahan; courtesy photos Congratulations to Castle Pines Village (CPV) residents Cheryl and Gary Joseph and their family foundation for…

By Patte Smith Minions, super heroes, witches and turtles can gather ghoulish gummy goodies (say that fast three times) at the annual Trick or Treat Street held in the Castle Pines business districts on October 28 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.   Kids get to trek around the area and get some goodies.  Trick or…

Article and photos by Amy Shanahan The Rotary Club of Castle Pines (RCCP) is extremely active in our local community and the members give graciously of their time to raise money for programs that support both our local and the international community.  On August 23, the RCCP held its inaugural “BBQ, Brews and Banjos” event…