The Connection

State Representative Holbert Colorado House District 44 Contributed by Representative Holbert Governor Hickenlooper signed House Bill 12-1029, “Save Colorado Jobs Act,” into law on Saturday, March 24. The new law allows local jurisdictions in Colorado to waive up to 100 percent of locally assessed business personal property tax. This is the first tax relief measure…

Castle Rock Bridge plays an American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) sanctioned duplicate game every Monday and Tuesday at 1 p.m. Preceding the Monday game, there is a one hour lesson beginning at 11:45 a.m., and an extended lesson beginning at 10:00 a.m. on the fourth Monday of every month. The Monday game is an open…

Team “Bumple Bees” featuring residents of Castle Pines and Sapphire Point, as well as students who attend DCS Montessori and American Academy. Back row: Jesse M, Rebecca P, Claire O, Jasmine F (lives in Sapphire Pointe), Krystal M (lives in BriarCliff, goes to DCS Montessori).  Front row: Brynnley B (lives in Sapphire Pointe), Abigayle E,…

Minors’ passports are valid for three years. Some countries do not admit travelers unless their passport is still valid for six more months. Pick up and drop off applications at the Castle Rock Clerk & Recorder’s Office: 301 Wilcox Street Castle Rock, CO 80104 Download forms at:www.douglas.co.us/clerk/index.html

By Patte Smith Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. Get ready for some fun outdoor events that will be happening around the community. The Starlight Summer Movies series is held in Festival Park, 300 Second Street in Castle Rock. First, on the big screen is “Dolphin Tale,” to be shown on…

Information provided by Master Association board member Jim Steavpack The Castle Pines Master’s Association sponsored a book swap in March. Approximately 300 Castle Pines residents attended the event, which was held at the Castle Pines community center. Avid readers, boys looking for spy thrillers, chefs digging for cookbooks, and little girls seeking “Goosebumps” stories, had…

Timber Trail Elementary fifth grader Jakob Porter stands near the stone sculpture and fountain he created with fellow fifth graders Jaxson Bell and Lucas Palazzo. The work was selected for display at the Douglas County School District art show last month. By Lisa Crockett Outstanding art students at elementary schools in the Douglas County School…

A book review by Joe Gschwendtner Apple Inc. has more than $100 billion cash in the bank, $40 billion more than in 2011. The cash hoard exceeds the market value of all but 52 U.S. publicly traded corporations. If Apple is the house that Steve Jobs built, what indeed do we know of him? “Steve…

Information provided by The City of Castle Pines City council has commissioned National Research Center, a research firm specializing in performance measurement and evaluation, to perform a public opinion survey of residents in Castle Pines. To minimize costs and to maximize resident participation, the survey will be conducted online and will cover a variety of…

Article by Elean Gersack with logo provided by The Dumb Friends League There will be plenty of wagging tails and wet noses at the Denver Dumb Friend League’s (DDL) Furry Scurry on Saturday, May 5, at 9 a.m. More than 12,000 people and 5,000 canines are expected for this 19th annual doggie celebration held at…

Dorri and Dawn Langford Article by Birgit Moran and photo provided by Dawn Langford The phone call any parent fears came true for Ronn Langford in 1986. It was the middle of the night and news came that his youngest daughter, Dorri, 19 years old was dead; killed by a drunk driver. Langford’s experiences and…

Information from the American Heartworm Society The American Heartworm Society reminds dog owners to remain vigilant against heartworm disease Heartworm, a serious and often fatal disease of dogs, cats, and other species of mammals, is preventable. And, with the beginning of the mosquito season, to help raise public awareness, April is recognized as Heartworm Prevention…

Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce members welcome Castle Pines Urgent Care staff with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the clinic’s recent open house. (From left to right) Kevin Jinkerson, Mel Wilner, Anita Holland and daughters Elise and Addison, Monica Wilner and son Chase, Dr. Larry Wilner, Brittany Urban, M.A., Paige Corbett, N.P., and Castle Pines Mayor…

Mr. Lee presents Ms. Wanda Castleman, a representive from Children’s Hospital a check of the money raised from the the 2012 board break-a-thon. Submitted by Grandmaster Han Lee The annual Han Lee Taekwondo Academy Board Break-A-Thon raised more than $12,000 for the Children’s Hospital in March at the event held at Douglas County High School.…

Castle Pines resident Doctor David Goodrich opened a new psychotherapy practice on Village Square Drive. Square Drive. By Lisa Crockett Dr. David Goodrich, PsyD, MFT, a family therapist who has been in practice for more than 20 years, has found a new home in Castle Pines. He now lives and works here, and has opened…

Batter Up! Don’t miss summer T-ball and baseball for children ages 4 to 4th grade, offered by Castle Pines Athletics. Registration ends May 1, so sign up today to secure you child’s spot in the program. Provided by Lane Roberts, Castle Pines Athletics Summer just wouldn’t be summer in Castle Pines without baseball! For the…

Information provided by The City of Castle Pines The city communications committee has an opportunity for a college student or young adult during the next four to six months. The city is looking for someone with an interest/experience in journalism, public relations, electronic/print/social media, or photography. The individual will collaborate with committee members and city…

Verebelyi and wife, Tasha, on the top of Mount Bierstadt. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Dr. David Verebelyi Dr. David Verebelyi, seven year resident of Glen Oaks and father of three young children, is an engineer by trade who graduated with a Bachelors of Science from the Missouri School of Mines and…

Graduating seniors Camille Prusse, Aubrey Eggett, and Matt Hopkins starred in this popular and amusing musical comedy. Article by RCHS drama student Rachel Zetwick, photo by Amy Shanahan Rock Canyon High School’s (RCHS) Performing Arts Department presented the musical comedy, “Once Upon a Mattress” March 8 – 10. The musical, with music by Mary Rodgers…

Couples can enjoy messages at the spa together. By Lisa Crockett A truly relaxing day includes a gentle but sumptuous feast for the senses: soothing sounds, tempting smells, delicious tastes and a feeling of tranquility and peace. For those of us who’ve endured the cold, dry conditions of a Colorado winter, a chance to rejuvenate…

Article by Lisa Crockett with sketch plan provided by A & A Investments, LLC At a public hearing held in late March the Castle Pines City Council approved an annexation petition from A&A Investments, LLC to annex property known as the Castle Pines Town Center into the City. City Council also approved the initial zoning…

From left to right) New Eagle Scouts Ethan Johnson, Alex Schmoker, Mitch Steinberg, and Zach Zahorik celebrate with friends and family of Castle Pines Boy Scout Troop 316. By Elizabeth Wood West with photo by Lynn Zahorik Dozens of fellow boy scouts, leaders, family members, and friends from Castle Pines Boy Scout Troop 316 gathered…

AA students, Kimberly Shelton and Jack Wilson, with their science displays that made them Science Fair Finalists. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of American Academy American Academy (AA) seventh graders made a great showing at the Denver Regional Science and Engineering Fair on February 23. Displaying great professionalism and integrity, the kids worked…

Personal Trainer Andrew Goodnow coaches Chelsea Woolen, a member at The Gym of Castle Rock. The Gym recently added a 3,000 square foot workout space. By Lisa Crockett Membership at The Gym of Castle Rock (The Gym) is growing, and the workout space and hours of operation are growing along with it. Last month, The…

Connor Jones with his flashlight display discovered which battery lasted the longest at the DCSM Science Fair. Article by Jodi Anderson with photos courtesy of DCSM What happens when you get a large group of preteens excited about science and turn them loose with a hypothesis to prove? You get the recent DCS Montessori (DCSM)…

Dr. Peter Thompson has a Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization and dissertation in school neuropsychology. His dedication to the study of the brain has helped the Douglas County School District lead the way in establishing protocols for handling concussions and other head injuries to student athletes. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Dr. Peter…

Article and photos by Elean Gersack It will be a year to remember! During the month of March, students, staff and families celebrated fifteen years of the first Castle Pines neighborhood school, Buffalo Ridge Elementary. On Friday, March 9, the entire school got in the spirit by wearing “15”. There were 15 bracelets; 15 necklaces;…

By Liz Jurkowski With warm weather approaching, families are preparing for some serious travel. Whether by car or plane, here are some tips to make the journey easier. Pack in advance of your trip. Do not leave loading your bags into the car to the night before the journey. Rather than staying up late, pack…

By Elizabeth Wood West Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) will be holding its regular election on Tuesday, May 8, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This election will be a mail ballot election. Mail ballots will be mailed out to all eligible electors in the City of Castle Pines the week of April 16,…

CSU freshman Ali Will is honored for her achievements in academics, leadership and service to others. Article by Amy Shanahan with photo courtesy of Audrey Will Castle Pines Village resident Ali Will is a high achiever in all aspects of her life. A freshman at Colorado State University (CSU), Will was recently accepted into the…

Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Spirit Week at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) was a great way for students to have some fun and show their school pride at the same time. The event, which was sponsored by the Timber Team – TTE’s version of a student council – featured dress-up days with the following…

Information from the Douglas County Educational Foundation website The 2nd Annual Fittin’ It In 5k race will take place on April 28 at 9 a.m. at Highlands Ranch High School. The Douglas County School District, in partnership with the Douglas County Educational Foundation (DCEF), the Douglas County Federation and the Boulder Running Company are sponsoring…

RCHS Varsity Cheer seniors, mostly Castle Pines (CP) residents, arrived at their banquet on March 21 in a pink Hummer limo. Pictured from left to right, back row: Captain Kelsey Karst, Captain (CP), Alexis Hutchings, Captain Madelyn Falk (Oak Hills), Hope Lytle, Rachel Branson (CP), Captain Lily Sumners, Rahea Miersch (CP), Nicolle Turnock (CP), and…

The Retreat Park is located in the Retreat neighborhood in The City of Castle Pines. By Liz Jurkowski Warm weather in mid-March brought droves of children to the parks of The City Castle Pines. The Retreat Park, normally quiet and secluded, was busy with activity. It was developed in the 1980s with the original plan…

The RCHS Mock Trial team took first place in the state at the annual tournament held at the Boulder County Justice Center.     Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of the Colorado Bar Association Students from Rock Canyon High School (RCHS), took first in state at the Colorado Bar Association State Mock Trial Tournament…

By Elizabeth Wood West The Town of Castle Rock lies within an area of Douglas County that is surrounded by distinct mesas and ridgelines. To protect these unique geographic areas from being obscured and visually blighted from development, the Town of Castle Rock adopted its “Skyline/Ridgeline Protection Regulations” in 1999. The Town’s Planning Commission recently…

By Karissa Kelly, intern writer, Castle View High School I was recently engaged in a discussion among high school students about the advancement of society and it struck a chord with me. People were excitedly shouting out reasons why our society “advances” as time goes on. “We are always coming up with new ideas, inventions…

Timber Trail fifth grader Jaxson Bell spends the day as a physician at Young AmeriTown, a Denver educational program aimed at giving students a taste of real-world money management and working skills. By Lisa Crockett The “real” world of work, paychecks and paying the bills is still a ways off for the ten and eleven…

Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of RCHS families Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) held its annual Winter Formal on Saturday, January 28. The event took place in the RCHS commons area and kept the kids on their toes for the evening. RCHS students were found dining all around the Park Meadows area that…

By Birgit Moran Every March for the past twelve years, the Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center conducts an evening of food, music, silent auction and ticket holders’ choice of hundreds of artisan made pottery bowls to raise money in support of its many programs and shelter. The event originated from the idea that “an…

By Lisa Crockett At a public hearing held in late February, the City of Castle Pines Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended that the Castle Pines City Council approve a proposal from A&A Investments, LLC to initially zone the parcel of land formerly known as “Lagae South” and now called “Castle Pines Town Center.” The…

Sharon Henning (left) and Amy Tempel (right) are proud of their library and media center, and enjoy having a positive impact on the students at RHMS. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) recently selected Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) as a recipient of the Highly Effective School Library Program.…

The fourth and fifth grade students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary enjoyed the musical performances. One fifth grade student remarked, “I can’t wait for middle school!” Article and photo by Amy Shanahan The Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) band and orchestra went on tour in February, and played gigs at Buffalo Ridge, Timber Trail and Redstone…

Baskets are just one of the items needed to fulfill the needs of the “Easter Giving Project.” Consider donating to this wonderful cause – donations are due by March 30. By Amy Shanahan with photo courtesy of Stacy Gaines When Castle Pines Village resident Stacy Gaines moved to Colorado five years ago, she recognized an…

Jordan Koslosky, RCHS senior, reaches out to disrupt the shot of Heritage basketball player, as RCHS successfully avenged its early season loss to the Eagles by winning on the road 78-61. RCHS sophomore, Lexy Thorderson, d’s – up the oncoming Regis point guard as the Jaguars took on the Red Raiders midway through their season,…

Dave Bauer after a training exercise. Bauer graduated from the SMFRA Academy in the spring of 2011. Information submitted by SMFRA South Metro Fire Rescue Authority (SMFRA) is accepting applications for its citizen academy. The academy will run from April 11 through May 30 on Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The application…

By Lisa Crockett The Giving Tree: Douglas County United Against Hunger is gearing up for its fourth annual food drive on April 14 at King Soopers. The event to support the Food Bank at the Douglas/Elbert Task Force will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in Castle Pines. Alumni of Leadership Douglas County in…

Article by Kathy Dunker; photos from the CCS website Are you an animal person? More specifically, are you a cat person? There are many lovable kitties who are sadly homeless, just waiting for a new family to come along and call them their own. Cat Care Society (CCS) in Lakewood is one such shelter, and…

“Skellig Monks,” sculpture also known as the St. Brendan’s Voyage, located east of the town of Caherciveen, County Kerry, Ireland. By Patte O’Smith Sure tis true that a monk, St. Brendan, and a seafaring Irishman from County Kerry set out in the sixth century with some fellow monks on a seven-year voyage to find the…

Brand, pictured with her daughter Skylar and her cousin Myrna in September 2011. Myrna passed away from bone cancer in November of 2011 at the age of 25. The Brand family: Mira, Cortney, Skylar, Dylan, and Carter. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of the Brand family HOA 1 resident Mira Brand gave up…

By Patte Smith Now you can keep your hair out of your eyes and out of the bathroom sink. And, no more washing, cutting, curling, straightening or dying that scraggly mane. Bald is beautiful, so go for it at the sixth annual St. Baldrick’s event, sponsored by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Help children fighting…

By Patte Smith with graphic by Tim Gamble March and April usually bring more snow for the Douglas County area and people start to get antsy and get spring fever. This is also the time when many individuals start thinking about squeezing into last years swim suit, getting in shape to go hiking, or gathering…

By Elean Gersack Enjoy a celebration of culinary creations throughout the metro Denver area during the annual Denver Restaurant Week. More than 350 participating restaurants will offer a multi-course dinner for the fixed price of $52.80 for two, or $26.40 for one. Several nearby restaurants are participating, including: Castle Pines: La Dolce Vita; Castle Rock:…

By Patte Smith Many local, state and national artists have felt the downturn of the economy, as well as other Americans. In the Castle Pines community, no one knows this better than Bill Sarge, owner of Cenacle Consultants. Sarge is a liturgical consultant whose projects mostly deal with Christian churches, schools and hospitals, although he…

By Lisa Crockett Third grader Tessa Green deposits a donation at the Timber Trail Elementary “Super Bowl of Caring” drive, held nationwide during Super Bowl weekend. In all, students collected 862 pounds of food, more than doubling the amount they collected last year. Donations were given to the Douglas County Food Bank

By Lisa Crocket New Year’s resolutions. By March, they’re usually a distant memory, long since replaced by old habits and crowded out by everyday life. But a small group of patrons at a Castle Rock gym capitalized on the New Year ‘s momentum to improve their health and fitness with some impressive results. The Challenge…

U.S. Representative Cory Gardner resides in Yuma, Colorado with his wife and two children. He is up for re-election this November as District 4 Representative, serving much of Douglas County and, more specifically, now Castle Pines. By Chris Bonham with photo courtesy of Congressman Gardner’s website In December of 2011, the Colorado Supreme Court ended…

Third graders from Mrs. Brester’s class display custom made windmills for their “wind power” Mission Green Science Fair project. By Ciara J., BRE Ridgeline Staff Reporter Have you heard about Mission Green? Well, if you haven’t, it is Buffalo Ridge Elementary’s (BRE) first-ever science fair! All students at BRE will get to participate. Kindergarten through…

Neptune, pictured above with her Haitian husband, Frentz Neptune and some of the Haitian children they have provided with aid. Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of HFAP The service club students of America Academy (AA) had a unique experience at their January meeting. After school, their teachers made a special Skype call to…

By Liz Jurkowski The International Baccalaureate (IB) program offered by Douglas County School District is becoming a popular choice for college-bound students. Upon graduation, some IB diploma students begin university as a second-year student, or at least find themselves skipping the general education requirements freshman year. The IB program was developed in 1969 for European…

Jackie Weimer, a race horse trainer with 30 percent lung capacity, was helped by Goodwill Denver to get new equipment for her ranch. She can now train her horses safely and without pain. Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of Goodwill Industries and Make-A-Wish Foundation Gear up and make your mark for the 10th…

By Lisa Crockett I love to cook – I think it’s really magical to come home from the supermarket with a bag full of raw materials and then end up with something delicious – a chocolate cake, say, or chicken enchiladas. But I haven’t always been so enchanted with the culinary arts. I am a…

Pictured left: Amy Tempel (left) and Kristin WardBrown (right) are finalists for the Douglas County Educational Foundation Apple Award. By Lisa Crockett The Douglas County Educational Foundation will present its Apple Awards on March 17 at an event designed to honor the finest educators in the county, while also raising money to support school programs.…

Castle Pines Athletics teammates Michael A. (left) and Anders P. (right) take a break during a basketball game for a quick photo. The “Blue Sharks,” a team of pre-kindergartners and kindergarteners finished its season on February 25. Submitted by Lane Roberts, Castle Pines Athletics with photos provided by Mark Poschl For the second consecutive year,…

Current Douglas County Board of County Commissioners Left to right: Jack Hilbert, Jill Repella, and Steve Boand By Chris Bonham with photo provided by Douglas County The 2012 elections are right around the corner, and there are – and will be – many politicians vying for the attention of voters as November draws closer. Presidents,…

These polished Club Cotillion students get acquainted and share a smile while taking a break for punch. By Elean Gersack with photo courtesy of JDW Cotillions Come April, girls dressed in party dresses and boys dressed in sports coats and ties will expand their social skills while dancing to current musical favorites like Taylor Swift,…