Read the stories from the latest issue:
Sandy Holcomb has been an Urban Park Ranger for Highlands Ranch Metro District (HRMD) for 14 years. She is passionate about nature and educating the public. Sandy’s love for education began as a gymnastic coach, then teaching at a nature camp focused on honeybees. Through these experiences, she realized the importance of community outreach which…
The new parking garage construction at Park Meadows mall is progressing with roughly 50% of the project now complete. Vertical construction began in late February, marking a significant milestone as the structure––which is located north of the mall just outside the food court area––takes shape. Once finished, the garage will provide approximately 700 additional parking…
Drivers will soon enjoy a smoother ride between Castle Pines and Highlands Ranch as a long-anticipated project to pave Grigs Road is scheduled to begin this summer. The gravel road is being upgraded to a paved surface. “Grigs is our top priority,” said Dan Roberts, assistant director of operations for Douglas County Public Works (DCPW).…
In 1872, before Castle Rock became a town, the City Hotel was a welcoming sight for settlers looking for a place to rest and to get a good deal on room and board. The hotel is one of Castle Rock’s oldest buildings and historical landmarks and it still stands today at 415 Perry Street—but barely.…
Douglas County is conducting a transit and multimodal study to determine what transportation options may be lacking for people who do not own a vehicle and want to connect to places they desire to go. Many County communities are not served by the Regional Transportation District (RTD) and are underserved by the existing transit system.…
On March 11, the Board of Directors (Board) of the Douglas County Commissioners launched the Douglas County Hall of Fame to honor and recognize those in the community who impact the lives of others. Whether it is a student achieving high honors in academics, activities and sports or a veteran who continues to give back,…
On March 13, mayor of Castle Pines Tracy Engerman held her monthly “Coffee Klatch with Tracy.” Hosted at Ziggi’s Coffee, Mayor Engerman shared updates with the community on the City of Castle Pines (City). Development Life Time plans to break ground in August on the northeast corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Canyonside Boulevard on…
Copperfalls Aveda Spa and Salon in Castle Rock celebrated its 25th anniversary on March 6; the day was officially recognized by Castle Rock Mayor Jason Gray as “Copperfalls Day.” The salon hosted a “Spring into Beauty” open house where guests were invited to escape the outside world and breathe in the plant and flower-based aromas…
Drop off tree limbs, shrubs, pine cones and grass clippings at the free County site. Located at 1400 Caprice Drive in Castle Rock, the site is open Saturdays through October, starting April 5. The County also maintains a year-round site to collect limited small loads, which is open Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.…
On Monday, March 3, Amy Mays, founder and executive director of Happy Crew, saw a longtime dream become a reality. It was the first day that the Happy Crew Coffee House opened for business. For more than 30 years, Amy has worked alongside teens and learned something crucial that became Happy Crew’s purpose: teens need…
After 115 years as the Dumb Friends League, the Denver-based animal welfare organization has re-branded itself as Humane Colorado. The original name, inspired by London’s 1897 charity Our Dumb Friends League, used “dumb” to mean “mute” or “lacking speech,” referring to animals. The new name, Humane Colorado, reflects the organization’s commitment to advocacy, education, and…
Sara Goodwin Freelance Writer A Colorado native, Sara is an avid writer and was drawn to The Connection because of its focus on positive and inspiring news. Throughout her varied career, she has been in pursuit of purposeful work that provides an ideal nexus between her expertise in strategic communications and passion for philanthropy. Sara…
In January, The Connection featured the antler-less elk statue in Elk Ridge Park. Recently, the statue has been restored to completion by the City of Castle Pines. He is beautiful. By Hollen Wheeler; photos courtesy of Lynn Zahorik
The Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) will host its inaugural symposium, Collaborative Impact: A Thriving Douglas County Community. Area nonprofits, donors and businesses are invited to attend on Friday, April 11, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at The Conference Center at Ridgegate, located at 9977 Sky Ridge Avenue, Suite 401 in Lone Tree. The…
A vibrant sense of community is one characteristic that sets Castle Pines––the 80108 ZIP code more specifically––apart from other Colorado communities. Neighbors know each other, they spend time together and they support each other. If you are a new resident, you have likely already experienced this firsthand. The same holds true for our friendly business…
Sixteen-year-old Rock Canyon High School junior Liam Abner recently performed on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, a magic competition television show judged by two venerable magicians and illusionists. The episode aired on February 21 on the CW Network. According to Liam, the producers, staff and entirety of the production were all amazing and the…
Last month, the website stacker.com released a ranking of the 25 best suburbs in Denver. Castle Pines ranked fourth, behind only Holly Hills, Cherry Creek and Greenwood Village. Factors included local schools and outdoor activities and data gathered by niche.com, which previously ranked Castle Pines the “#1 Best Place to Live in Douglas County,” based…
Three local boys graduated from Rock Canyon High School, went to CU Boulder and then started a band: The Dirty Turkeys. Guitarist Justin Hansen, his older brother and vocalist Brad Hansen, and Justin’s childhood best friend, Sam Baker, the bassist, were the original three. Then, Ty Tullar, a drummer from San Diego, came along to…
“Every king has his legacy,” begins the description of the book His Majesty’s Legacy, written by resident John Marchlowska, pen name J.J. March. If the words were changed to “Every man has his legacy,” John’s would be filled with love, kindness, service and following his dreams. John met his wife, Patty, in high school in…
Brought to you by Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center Having a pet at home is not new to the Wiley family: Michelle, Matthew, Victoria (10) Elizabeth (8) and Michael (7). Chase, a black lab was Michelle and Matthew’s first “baby” before their three kids were born. He was 14 years old when he passed…
Canyons Community Church 4825 Crowfoot Valley Road, Castle Rock Maundy Thursday*, April 17, 6 p.m. Easter Sunday, April 20, 10:30 a.m. canyonscc.org Castle Oaks Covenant Church 826 Park Street, Castle Rock Maundy Thursday*, April 17, 7 p.m. Easter Sunday, April 20, 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. castleoaks.org Castle Rock First United Methodist Church 1200…
Situated in the foothills west of Denver is the only acoustically perfect amphitheater in the world that was formed by nature: Red Rocks Amphitheatre. A destination must for travelers to Colorado and a bucket list check for concert goers, what few may know is that the venue’s longest running event is the Easter Sunrise Service.…
At 4138 Rio Grande Avenue, just over the second set of train tracks in downtown Sedalia, sits a quaint property once owned and lived in by Rosemary Sandell, a well-known Sedalian. Cherri LaMarr purchased the home about two years ago and has renovated it into the Magpie Art Center (MAC). The grand opening is planned…
“Qu’ils mangent de la brioche” is falsely attributed to the queen during the French Revolution, Marie-Antoinette. The phrase has been widely used in popular culture for more than 200 years with disparaging, ignorant and indulgent connotations. Like cake, reading is sometimes viewed as extravagant, but do not let that stop you from reading about cake…
Dear Mrs. A., I’m working on napkin etiquette with my kids and would love a primer from you, please advise. -Green Briar Gal Dear Green Briar, Well sure! Knowing how the napkin works is an essential part of table etiquette. And starting early is always good. My children are grown, but I know they…
Our Douglas community thrived on Beans in the late 19th and early 20th Century. But not the kind you think… The Bean family lineage began with John Marean Bean of Gilead Maine, born in 1846, and his wife, the former Mary Mason. His five sons lusted early on for something new and different; three…
St. Patrick’s Day was fun time for the residents of Legacy Village. The lucky day was filled with festive fun, Irish refreshments, and Irish music tunes performed by Studio 8 for all residents and their guests. By Julie Matuszewski
As the population ages, budgets can be tighter and the need to count dollars can become more crucial as we work to thrive on fixed incomes. That is one reason it is so important to be aware of and take advantage of the generous resources available in our community, especially for seniors. Aging Resources of…
Crossword brought to you by Allstate Insurance — Tammy Lopez (720) 733-1331 Across 1. Type of IRA 5. Car accident 10. Third degree? 13. Drive off 14. Beginning of a conclusion 15. Cafeteria carrier 16. Camera eyepiece 18. Sly trick 19. Pea jacket? 20. “Come here ___?” 21. “I read you” 22. Football infractions…
My husband loves carrot cake. We have friends who also love it, so whenever we go out as couples, we split a piece of carrot cake in hopes of discovering the best. So, for this April issue, I revisited some of our favorites––and, of course had to re-sample them all to break it down. What…
When I moved to Castle Pines, I loved so many things. The mountain views, the attractive neighborhoods, friendly neighbors, and abundant sunshine were all reasons I could find to revel in residing here. The first time I made a cake, though, I was disappointed to find that the high altitude made baking my favorite treats…
There are a quite a few reasons to have a good repertoire of egg substitutes, whether it is eating fewer animal products, an egg allergy or the fluctuating price of eggs. Try experimenting with the following substitutes, noting that each quantity equals one egg. Consider the overall recipe and which substitute might work best. Use…
Whether you’re a fishing pro or looking to introduce your family to a new hobby, enjoy a day of fishing at Rueter-Hess Reservoir. Reservations for shoreline fishing are now available: slots are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday through October. The entrance to the reservoir is off of Hess…
As a mother of four and an English teacher at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS), it was a natural decision for Karen Whitney to join the board of directors for Happy Crew, a nonprofit whose mission is to destigmatize mental health issues for teens by creating a supportive and inclusive community. (See related story on…
Fifty high school seniors from Castle Pines and Castle Rock honored teachers, coaches and mentors who made an impact on their lives. A favorite of teachers, the annual teacher appreciation event is hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Former NBA player Jimmer Fredette was the keynote speaker (pictured above). The evening…
Ivybrook Academy in Castle Rock is a half-day preschool that encourages physical environment as a resource for exploration, inquiry and thought. Every March, to align with National Book Month, children participate in Young Authors Week, a project that allows them to create their own stories in a book format. The four- to five-year-olds share their…
Photographic prints by two students from Rock Canyon High School, Hudson Koenig and James Weinberg, were on display for the month of March at ARTWORKS Gallery, an art cooperative at The Streets at SouthGlenn in Centennial. “At ARTWORKS, we have been thrilled to support two talented teens each month from different high schools,” stated Susan…
Wish Week at Valor Christian High School (Valor) was a tremendous success, with students coming together to surpass their fundraising goal. The school raised more than $42,000 which allowed for five wishes for Make-A-Wish Colorado. The week was filled with energy, excitement and heartfelt moments as the Valor community rallied around their Make-A-Wish Ambassador, Mila.…
Rock Canyon High School’s (RCHS) annual Wish Week once again brought the community together in a heartwarming display of generosity and school spirit. This year’s event, held in honor of Kinley, a young girl (7) with eye cancer, raised an astonishing $94,921.91 breaking the school’s previous fundraising record and granting 12 life-changing wishes. See related…
Merit rewards at American Academy – Castle Pines function as positive reinforcement motivating students to strive for higher academic achievement and positive behavior. On the other hand, students gain demerits for things like not having the correct supplies, using inappropriate language and uniform violations. The merit program was created by School Resource Office Deputy Eric…
By the end of the school year, middle school students at DCS Montessori (DCSM) will write and publish a special book through a unique multicultural program. The students will coauthor the fictional, bilingual book, Earth’s End: The Journey to the Mountains,with counterparts from across the globe: the all-girl Nakamura Junior High School of Tokyo (Nakamura).…
Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) students had a unique opportunity to experience a little piece of France right in their own classrooms. From February 14 to March 8, three exchange students from L’Hermitage, a small town in southern France, joined RCHS as part of the annual French Shadow Week. The French students stayed with host…
Douglas County High School buzzed with cups whizzing up and down at lightning speed during the World Sport Stacking Association’s Colorado Open Championship where 81 stackers competed for times, personal records and a chance to qualify for the Junior Olympics 2025. Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) was represented by 20 students from its club, the Howling…
TINO’S KITCHEN: Food is better when we eat together Celestino Galmadez, owner of Tino’s Kitchen in Englewood, cannot contain his love of sharing his good food and wants south Denver residents to “have a place to gather because food is better when we eat together.” He realized the need for more great breakfast choices and…
Some people think sunshine and 70s is the perfect weather to cast a line. Mike Forster does not disagree. But he also thinks any day is a good day to catch a fish, especially in the winter months, when the temps dip and the water freezes over. “My absolute favorite thing about ice fishing is…
Minimalist camping may soon be allowed at Sandstone Ranch Open Space (Sandstone Ranch) in Larkspur, more than 2,000 acres of diverse landscapes, striking red rock formations, expansive meadows, and rich wildlife habitats. Last October, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) tasked the staff of Douglas County Open Space and Natural Resources to look at options…
A fascinating, multi-step process converts used water from homes, that is wastewater, into clean water to return to the environment. The Parker Water and Sanitation District (PWSD) has two wastewater treatment and purification facilities that perform this service for its customers in Parker and The Canyons neighborhood in Castle Pines. “We treat and discharge around…
Want to get outside with the family this spring and summer? For years, Douglas County Division of Open Space and Natural Resources provided a fun program, a scavenger hunt, encouraging residents to get outside and explore the 65,000 acres of open space and trails in Douglas County. Before 2025, booklets provided by the county were…
Join the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for a friendly competition that is all about saving lives. We have invited our partners to join us for the Battle of the Badges Community Blood Drive. It’s a showdown between two Team Fire and Team Law. Each donor gets a vote, and every drop of blood has a…
Happy Canyon Interchange The City is working with Douglas County to design improvements to the Happy Canyon and I-25 interchange. This process is currently in the design phase. There will be a public open house on March 31 at Douglas County Library – Castle Pines that will provide updates on the project’s progress and next…
The City of Castle Pines is once again partnering with residents for the City’s annual Spring Cleanup Day. As the community grows, it is more important than ever to keep the beautiful parks and open spaces that make Castle Pines special free of trash and other debris. This year’s cleanup day will take place on…
Unfortunately, government imposter scams continue to spread across the country. In these types of scams, criminals impersonate government employees to try to gain personal information or money from the unsuspecting. To raise awareness and help combat these scams, the Social Security Administration and the Office of the Inspector General have designated March 6 as National…
It is often said that a good business idea is one that meets a need or want, or simply being willing to do a job that no one else wants to do. Ally Kelly is banking on all of the above. The Forest Park 16-year-old has a creative spirit and a work ethic that comes…
There are six rural fire protection districts in or near the Pike-San Isabel National Forest (Pike Forest) in Douglas County. Recognizing the need for additional help to manage fires and train responders for medical emergencies and rescue operations, the Board of Douglas County Commissioners awarded $100,000 in federal monies to these fire districts. The federal…
The Sah family is a busy, blended family of five. Living in The Canyons neighborhood, Robyn, Sanjeev “Jeeves,” Rylie (20), Britton (16) and Skylar (10) made their way to Colorado from Louisiana in 2020. Growing up in Nepal, Jeeves still thinks of it as home, even after living a few years in India and in…
Michella Clark, local author, businesswoman and pioneer for Douglas County’s open space preservation, recently published Practical Dreaming, a guide to understanding and interpreting dreams. The book provides a framework that invites dreamers to evaluate their nighttime visions to discover how they might conquer everyday challenges. “I know a lot about dreams because I’ve been…
It is not an overstatement to say that Dave Liniger’s list of life accomplishments is unrivaled. Best known as the founder of real estate giant RE/MAX, the Village at Castle Pines resident’s story plays out like a movie script, an adventure-filled saga that blends billionaire Richard Branson with Forrest Gump. A humble upbringing in Indiana…
Fifteen years ago, The Connection featured a story on nonprofit, A Sanctuary Center, that remarkable built-from-ground-up refuge at the corner of Wolfensberger Road and State Highway 105 in Sedalia. Moved by their compassion, The Village residents Sue and Jack Pfeiffer offered temporary housing for those with troubled hearts and seeking solitude in overcoming losses and…
Griffin Myers, at the ripe age of 21, is the owner of Glenalla Group Corp.—a distribution company with $1.2M in revenue for year-ending 2024 and projected 2025 revenue of $2.5M. The Buffalo Ridge Elementary School, Rocky Heights Middle School and Rock Canyon High School graduate started his online business at age 14 by selling…
The Castle Pines community garage sale is a popular event that residents look forward to every year. While there is no longer a “sponsor” of the event, anyone who is considering hosting a garage sale this summer is encouraged to join with your neighbors and to do it on the weekend of Friday, May 30…
Dr. Devin Godber, a doctor of occupational therapy, knew from an early age that she wanted to work in healthcare. Inspired by medical providers caring for her younger sister Taryn, who was born with a disability, Devin remembers her sister was flown to Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHC) in Denver multiple times. “Being from rural Wyoming…
“As a travel professional, I have always had a deep appreciation for finding the right place to call home—whether it’s a dream destination or a community to plant roots,” stated Lady Lourdes Williams, a jet-setting travel advisor and a resident in Castle Valley. Although a professional travel advisor for just over a year, Lady has…
Stacy Farmer has her dream job; she is the Patient Experience Program Manager at AdventHealth Castle Rock. Her work perfectly pairs with her personal calling to problem solve. The daughter of a pastor, Stacy watched her dad counsel and minister to his parishioners and knew she wanted to do something similar. With an English…
Kristin and Jared King live in the Green Briar neighborhood, have a family and pets. But their story began in Los Angeles… in an elevator. The two were working jobs right out of college: Kristin in advertising for Leo Burnet Company managing Touchstone and Disney accounts and Jared as a production assistant for three…
Soul Dog Rescue (SDR) is a nonprofit that began in 2010 with a mission to alleviate animal suffering and address overpopulation on Native American reservations in the Four Corners region—Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. “The organization advocates for ‘responsible rescue’ practices, placing significant emphasis on spay/neuter and vaccination initiatives as proactive measures against…
Our early settlers were tough and resilient. Even so, James Frank Gardner from Attica, New York, stood out. Tired of living with his parents at age 22, Frank came west seeking adventure. First, he found surveyors work near Omaha. Still bored at 26, he joined that hardy wave of men lured by rumors of…
The Rock of Hope Gala, a charity event benefitting cancer care in Castle Rock, was a stunning showing of compassionate, activated and generous guests. The charity event raised nearly $240,000 to support bringing expert cancer care to AdventHealth Castle Rock. The Douglas County Board of Commissioners made a gift commitment of $1M on January 28…
Girl Scout sisters Abigail (16) and Evie (13) Reynolds have achieved their goals of earning two of the highest awards in Girl Scouting. Abigail officially became a Gold Award Girl Scout ina February and Evie earned her Silver Award in October. Abigail addressed the issue of underrepresentation of women in engineering for her Gold Award…
Women’s History Month was first celebrated in March 1987, though it began five years earlier as Women’s History Week by presidential proclamation. Born from the feminist movement and Title IX, the observance honors women and their cultural, societal and historical contributions. This month, look to the example of a few of the amazing women in…