Read the stories from the latest issue:
A childhood dream came true for Savannah Morgan (17) as she sang the national anthem at Empower Field at Mile High when the Denver Broncos faced the Green Bay Packers in the preseason on August 21. “I sang in front of 66,000 people. That’s insane,” Savannah said. “It was the coolest experience of my life.”…
For residents accustomed to traveling north outside the community to shop at Costco, the wait for a closer location is getting shorter with construction and infrastructure improvements continuing in the Dawson Trails development on the west side of I-25 near Crystal Valley Parkway. The warehouse is approved, infrastructure is taking shape and, if the current…
Officials with Douglas County Libraries (DCL) and community leaders gathered on August 26 to break ground on Douglas County’s newest library at Sterling Ranch that will serve the growing community and give young residents a place to build early reading skills. “Over half of our business is kids under the age of 7,” said Bob…
Park Meadows celebrated its 30th anniversary on August 29 by welcoming customers and community partners to its Birthday Bash in the Vistas on the west side of “Colorado’s Only Retail Resort.” The afternoon and early evening event featured plenty of activities for families and guests, including face painting, music, a roaming magician and signature anniversary…
Construction is underway to widen the front entrance to Cherokee Ranch & Castle (Castle) on Daniels Park Road in Sedalia. The aim is for better, smoother access to the Castle. “We are making it safer for our guests, staff and vendors to enter and exit the property,” said Greg Vigil, executive director at the Castle.…
Twice a year, the Douglas County community comes together for a volunteer clean-up event. This fall, “Dougnad” as it is called, is scheduled for Saturday, October 24 starting at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers will team up across Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree and Parker to complete simple yard work projects such as pulling weeds, pruning plants and raking leaves for older adults. Before…
Keeping residents informed about the decisions and services of county government is a priority for Douglas County. It is important work locally that has now earned national recognition. The Douglas County Department of Communication & Community Engagement received two awards in September from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association during the organization’s annual Savvy Awards.…
The Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) gathered with 510 guests at the Signature Aviation hangar at Centennial Airport, raising more than $315,000 to support Douglas County nonprofits and celebrate first responders, military, veterans, healthcare workers, educators and everyday heroes making an impact in the community. Among the evening’s honorees were Air Force veteran, businessman and…
When Christy Boswell decided to shift from her work with an HR consulting firm, she enlisted the help of a franchise broker to lead her toward a passion. Soon after learning about Scenthound, Christy knew it was the path for her. Scenthound provides grooming and hygiene services for dogs but goes beyond the basic…
Castle Pines residents have shopped the King Soopers on Lagae Road since 2002. For years, families see the same faces in the produce department, behind the service desk and pharmacy counter, in the floral department and restocking the shelves. One face behind the meat counter has welcomed shoppers since he started working for parent store…
The Rotary Club of Castle Pines (RCCP) donated three 18-pound boxes of Palisade peaches to Legacy Village of Castle Pines at the end of August. Residents were welcome to as many peaches as they wished and all were gone within the day. The RCCP makes a difference by supporting Douglas County families with their motto:…
Hidden Pointe neighbors Kim and Matt Gower met at an intersection, coming in opposite directions, each on a motorcycle. The rest, as they say, is history. “At the time, I thought there were very few things sexier than a woman on her own bike,” laughed Matt, who is a Colorado native. Growing up in southeast…
After AdventHealth Castle Rock successfully completed its Rock of Hope Campaign to bring high-quality cancer expertise to Castle Rock, donors and key community members gathered at a home reception fondly called Horizon of Hope. A fully complemented cancer center with radiation oncology will be coming in 2027. “What was once a vision of what could…
Swimming for Castle Crocs for 12 years gave Elise Barton a passion for sport, a drive to push herself and a work ethic that continues to motivate her today. Elise, who grew up in The Ridge at Castle Pines North neighborhood, began with the Crocs at age 5 and over the years she grew…
Paul’s Mystery Ship to End ALS continues to raise awareness, support families impacted by ALS, provide scholarships for students impacted by the difficulties of ALS or other neuromuscular diseases, and create programs that bring comfort and connection to those living with ALS. This year, the organization mixed things up with an afternoon of family-friendly fun.…
On August 21, hundreds of neighbors gathered at the Village Shops for Vino in the Village, the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce’s signature event. In its 11th year, the popular party has sold out multiple years in a row and this year was no exception. Guests enjoyed chatting with vendors, listening to live music and…
Girl Scout Troop 00688 began their journey from Kearney, Nebraska, to Colorado Springs early in the morning on August 6. With a trailer packed full of camping gear, they knew they were headed for adventure; they just did not know what kind. The miles passed with silly songs, games and chatter. With all the fun,…
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…
On July 26, The Right Step (TRS) celebrated its relocation to the Denver Polo Club in Sedalia, just east of Highway 85 and Airport Road. The program provides equine therapy to all ages with safe, supportive and empowering experience for adaptive riders. The nonprofit began in 2008, inspired by a client with autism. Christine Remy…
American crows are common across the entire United States, including right here in Castle Pines. Crows are solid black birds with iridescent feathers and a familiar “caaw-caaw-caaw” call. They, along with magpies, ravens and jays, are known as corvids, a family of highly intelligent birds well adapted to living near humans. Crows are larger than…
Adopting a Bengal cat is perhaps the closest the average person can get to owning a wild animal. The result of breeding Asian leopard cats, a small wild feline species native to Asia, with domestic cats, Bengals sport leopard-like spots and marbled rosettes on their coats of various shades of gray, brown or white. The breed has…
Dear Reader, Let’s talk about hat etiquette. It’s that time of year and where I come from, in Texas (regarding western hats), we would follow the traditional rule of wearing felt from Labor Day to Memorial Day where we would break out the straw. There’s an old saying that the old guard still goes by:…
October: that month of multicolored foliage and spooky celebrations. The month’s name comes from its position as the eighth month in the old Roman calendar: octo means “eight” in Latin. The name remained even when the calendar changed. In Old English, October was Winterfylleth, meaning “winter full moon,” because the early Anglo-Saxons marked the beginning…
Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns, Hudson Gardens, Littleton Tuesday-Sunday throughout October, take in thousands of hand-carved pumpkins, explore an illuminated trail, and see larger-than-life pumpkin creations, including dinosaurs, dragons and a pirate ship, along with a pumpkin light show with music. magicofthejackolanterns.com Colorado Kids Ranch Pumpkin Patch, Monument Wednesday-Sunday throughout October, this 40-acre farm has…
Nonprofit Bin Blessed celebrated its 11th anniversary with a reception at Deni Schwartzel’s home in The Village at Castle Pines on a beautiful September evening. Bin Blessed supports There with Care, a nonprofit that provides bins of practical support items to families with critically ill children. To date, Bin Blessed has collected more than $1.3…
Colorado has ties to music and artists from every genre, ranging from big band swing to pop rock. Here are a few of the state’s notable music connections: Glenn Miller, one of the most successful band leaders of the 1930s and 1940s big band era, moved to Fort Morgan as a teen and attended high…
Elevate your heart rate and get a good scare at one of the many haunted houses nearby, or learn more about the haunted history of Denver on a goosebump-giving ghost tour. Some suggestions are family-friendly while some are only for those over 21. Be sure to visit the websites first to check age limits or…
In vino veritas is a popular Latin phrase meaning “in wine, there is truth.” The Latin root word ver means “truth,” and it is the root for “veritable” (can be proved), “verify” (to determine to be truthful), and “veracity” (the quality of being true or accurate). This month’s word is “verisimilitude” and knowing the root…
October, with the changing of seasons and the influence of Halloween, brings magic and mythical creatures to mind: dragons, vampires, unicorns, zombies, fairies, witches, trolls, ogres and more. Their infamous reputations proceed them…but is it always justified? Pick a book or a few and decide for yourself. Dracula by Bram Stoker is in part the…
Local author Susan Consola Appleby summed up the early South Platte/Deckers area as: “A seedbed for flowering enterprises attempting to capitalize directly upon the extraction of resources such as timber, gold, lithia springs and fish.” Good fortune smiled early near the confluence of the North and South Platte Rivers. The narrow gauge (three-feet wide) Denver,…
From hunting drug cartel bosses in Mexico to leading investigations on human smuggling networks, Eric Balliet’s 25-year, storied career has spanned multiple sectors of federal law enforcement. Since his retirement in 2024, Eric has authored a book on his experiences and today, is living the quiet life with his family in the Timberline neighborhood. “I…
Maze By Susan Helton Find your way through the maze, starting at the entrance arrow that points into the maze and reaching the exit arrow that points out of the maze. Letter Logic: Autumn vibes By Susan Helton Fill in the grid with the words in the list. Use each word only once. A…
I am shamelessly in love with all things pumpkin. I find ways to work it into our regular meal rotation—in both sweet and savory forms—as soon as a single leaf on a tree turns yellow and the temperature drops even slightly below sweltering. Fall is pumpkin season, so even though it will be the star…
It was a season full of tennis rallies, poaches and aces in The Village at Castle Pines (CPV). Liz Bauer is the neighborhood’s Tennis Activities Group Chairperson and United States Tennis Association faculty coordinator. She provided a thorough recap of the fun the competition had during the past few months. In total, Liz said CPV…
Saturday, September 12, marked the 10th go-round for the Castle Cup, a men’s tennis and golf extravaganza, to celebrate the end of The Village at Castle Pines (CPV) men’s 4.0 tennis team season. The men played tennis in CPV before heading to Lone Tree Golf Club for 18 holes in scramble form, followed by an…
The start of the school year brought the excitement of getting acquainted with friends, meeting new teachers and staff and welcoming Sierra Weil, Timber Trail Elementary’s (TTE) new assistant principal. Sierra feels right at home as she has been part of the Douglas County School District since 2012. Born in Denver, Sierra grew up in…
Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) updated and revamped the school garden this year beginning in January. Laura Brown and Shannon Santos took over as co-chairs of the Buffalo Ridge Education Alliance Garden Committee and together have spearheaded the upgrades: replaced planting beds, installed a watering system, fixed up the weather station and dedicated a flower…
A true taste of farm life Fall is officially here and many are seeking a taste of authentic farm life; a trip north reveals a hidden gem. Located just off the Bear Creek Trail in south Lakewood, the Yetman Family Farm is gearing up for fall and the holiday season. Amy and Doug Yetman grew…
Wildfire season is year-round in Colorado, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is prepared. According to Sheriff and Fire Warden Darren Weekly, DCSO operates the only county-sponsored helitack program in Colorado. “Helitack” refers to fighting fires with the use of helicopters, and DCSO’s program includes wildland firefighters specifically trained in chainsaw use, hand crew…
Last month, the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce hosted a meeting featuring a Canyonside development update from Skyler Hager, project manager for North Canyons Development Company. Canyonside is a planned mixed-use town center east of I-25. It is part of the much larger master-planned development for The Canyons within the City of Castle Pines. Hager…
On August 12, Tall Tales Ranch (TTR) broke ground for their future residential facility, four acres north of Schweiger Ranch and east of the RidgeGate Parkway light rail station in Lone Tree. TTR is an inclusive residential community supporting people with intellectual and development disabilities (I/DD). The future residence will include one- and two-bedroom apartments…
Emergencies rarely arrive with notice, but a prepared community can respond when neighbors need help. The Douglas County Community Foundation’s Community Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) provides assistance during catastrophic events affecting Douglas County––supporting residents, nonprofit partners and first responders when help is needed most. Although rainfall allowed Douglas County to move from Stage 2 to…
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office invites citizens to participate in the 2026 Community Academy. The academy has been redesigned to offer 38 hours of unique opportunities, built upon the principles of community-oriented policing, partnerships, and problem solving, and to provide attendees with a intimate look at the Sheriff’s Office. The annual academy is held at…
“We are truly living the volunteer spirit” is a quote often used by the volunteers of the Mountain Pine Woman’s Club (MPWC). MPWC is affiliated with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) and the Colorado Federation of Women’s Clubs. GFWC is an international organization founded in the 1890s with 8,000 clubs worldwide. GFWC is…
Ken McConnellogue Freelance Writer Ken McConnellogue has called Colorado home for more than five decades. After graduating from Bear Creek High School in Lakewood and working as a carpenter, bartender, house painter and juggler, he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from CU Boulder. Early in his career he was a reporter for the Fort…
Castle Rock residents now have access to free, on-demand transportation following the July 31 expansion of Link On Demand into Castle Rock. The service will take riders anywhere within the Castle Rock service area, as well as directly to and from destinations in Lone Tree. Riders traveling to Highlands Ranch or select areas of Parker…
Lori Taggert has been in the banking industry for 40 years and has spent four years with SouthState Bank as branch manager vice president. Over the years, there have been changes in the financial space at SouthState, a location that sits adjacent to Starbucks on Castle Pines Parkway; but what has not changed is the…
Josh Weber describes his job as being in “commercial real estate.” Yet his succinct assessment does not begin to describe his work as the senior general manager for Park Meadows, Colorado’s largest mall, or his passion for what he does. “It’s a big, complicated piece of real estate with a lot of different ownership entities,…
Castle Pines loves its pets beyond a shadow of a doubt. From daily “walkies” to full pages of photos in the paper, pet owners know their pets love them back. But can they really know? Meet medium Susan Tucker, who has lived in The Retreat neighborhood with her husband, Paul, for 23 years. Susan began…
People from all areas of life are accustomed to being touched by Misty Fricke’s generous heart. “There’s a lot of people out there who need help,” said Misty, who volunteers for various nonprofit organizations throughout Colorado. “I’m just one of those people who doesn’t say no.” Born and raised in Champaign, Illinois, Misty met her…
Living for decades in Douglas County and understanding its rich history, Greg Vigil is in a perfect position as the new executive director of Cherokee Ranch & Castle (Castle) in Sedalia. The Colorado native and his wife, Sandi, raised three sons and a daughter in Castle Pines, first moving to The Hamlet in 1994 and…
To say that Joe Gschwendtner, our neighbor in The Village at Castle Pines (CPV), is involved in the greater community is an understatement. His compassion and resolve run deep. At present, he is returning to Providence Network (PN) to support development efforts (see related story about Providence Network on page 14). Joe previously served on…
What makes a house a home? An office space dynamic and functional? A small business welcoming? If you ask recent Colorado State University graduate in interior architecture and design Tate Benson, she might tell you it begins with the design foundations: the way rooms open up, how sound travels, how textures and designs on…
It may feel taboo or an arm’s length away, but addiction, homelessness and domestic violence are real issues faced across all walks of life, even in seemingly normal families. For more than 36 years, Providence Network (PN), a Christian-based transformational housing program in Denver, has supported men, women and children ready for recovery. One of…
Pati Sawyer Boex’s long-time love of event planning ultimately led to her dream job as the lifestyle director at The Canyons. Growing up on Long Island in a family of eight, Pati was intent on experiencing all that was beyond New York. She attended University of Scranton, working in public relations and marketing for the…
This summer’s pervasive heat and drought-driven water restrictions have left a number of local lawns looking worse for wear. Some residents are considering popular solutions to brown turf, including replacing lawns with native plant xeriscaping or with artificial grass (a pricey solution, even if HOAs allow). Yet a relatively new approach has arrived on the…
The final concert of the summer was held August 16 to a packed crowd at Elk Ridge Park. The band, The Long Run, sang Eagles classics on a beautiful Sunday evening. The summer concerts were sponsored by the City of Castle Pines, the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce and The Sarah Phillips Group. By…
The German word pudeln means “to splash in water,” and is the root origin for the word poodle. Standard poodles were first bred in Germany as water retrieving hunting dogs. Originated by standard poodles, miniature poodles were developed through selective breeding in France and throughout Europe. Miniature or mini poodles were used to sniff…
Since the early 1800s, Oktoberfest has been an annual tradition that takes place in September. And now, it is time again to celebrate. Here are some Oktoberfest events to enjoy, not too far away. Denver Oktoberfest Denver’s two-weekend Oktoberfest celebration is September 18 – 20 and September 25 – 27, in the Ballpark District at…
Autumn is coming and so is the time to enjoy outdoor fall festivals. The fun ranges from hayrides and outdoor adventures to arts and crafts, games, music and more, with something for everyone. Here are some nearby festivals this month. Highlands Ranch Fall Craft Fair With a selection of handmade goods from local artisans, the…
To all of you wordsmiths: the word curriculum may come into play on Back to School Night or it may come up in your job search when you are asked to provide your curriculum vitae, or CV. According to the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary, one’s curriculum vitae is their “course of life” and stems from both…
Oh, Dear Readers, have I got an opportunity for you! I think you already know how much Mrs. A loves a party; well, let’s talk about getting together with our neighbors this month! National Good Neighbor Day is September 28. An annual United States observance, it encourages people to connect with the people living around…
Crossword By Susan Helton Across 1. Ever 6. Eyes’ jump while reading 13. Red Sea peninsula 14. Frog, for one 15. Express displeasure 16. Excellent, in England 17. Blind alleys 19. Look ___ (study) 20. Functions 21. ___ four 23. Fraternity letters 24. Principled 28. Book before Job 30. Instruments for Rostropovich 31. Front…
With its brilliant gold dome, Colorado’s State Capitol building is a distinctive sight in downtown Denver. Nearly as old as the state itself, the main part of the building was constructed from 1886 to 1894. Architect Elijah E. Myers designed it in the form of a Greek cross and it intentionally resembles the United States…
Discovering natural beauty for the first time always inspires. Consider the upper South Platte River Valley. If names like Trumbull, Nighthawk, Twin Cedars, Ox Yoke (once home to Governor Elias M. Ammons) and Deckers do not fire up your curiosity, there is a whole lot more in the scenery getting there via State Highway 67…
To commemorate Colorado’s 150th and America’s 250th birthdays, the Castle Rock Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) commissioned a memorial bench for the Town of Castle Rock. The dedication was last month at Festival Park in downtown Castle Rock. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, State Senator Lisa Frizell, Commissioner George Teal,…
The Village at Castle Pines Garden Club’s (Garden Club) successful Help & Hope Center (H&H) donation drive was held in July. Community generosity continued with an additional donation opportunity one week later. Volunteers from the Garden Club’s community outreach committee, led by Chair Mary Murray, collected two more carloads of donations and delivered them to…
It has been 25 years since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the deadliest in our nation’s history. There were 2,977 victims killed, including 40 in Pennsylvania, 184 at the Pentagon, and 2,750 in New York; 400 were first responders. Ramifications forever changed the world and the way we live within it. Yet, despite…
I have a confession to make: I have bad avocado management skills. I have worked hard over the decades to curtail waste in my kitchen, decrying the loss of money and labor when food goes unused. About once a week, I have some sort of “clear the fridge” meal to use up the accumulated odds…
It has become more common to see people wearing a weighted vest while walking or working out. The extra weight increases the difficulty and intensity of activity, with benefits including improved bone density, strength, cardiovascular health and more. A weighted vest allows for a more evenly distribution of weight, which can be safer and more…