The Connection

     John Pellegrin stands beside a collage that his wife Barbara made for him. It depicts him as a young man with his collection of medals from WWII. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan John Pellegrin was only 19 years old on June 6, 1944, but it’s a day that lives on vividly in his…

     Article by Jodi Anderson When is a middle school not a middle school? When it’s more. Following a plan set forth by the original founders and written charter for DCS Montessori Charter School (DCSM), plans are approved and in motion for the start of a DCSM Middle School for the 2012/2013 academic school year.…

A Thanksgiving meal from the Volunteers of America was heartily enjoyed at the Castle Rock Senior Center on November 22 with AA student,  Michael Basey, helping to dish out the eats. Seniors were thrilled to have the trees of thanks adorning the tables and plan to reuse them again next fall. Article and photo by…

The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce finished the year strong with more than 200 members and a full borad of directors – pictured above. (Left to right): Jeff Wasden, PROformance Apparel; Sheriff David Weaver, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (chair elect); Jason Ortman, Castle Pines Eye Care (outgoing board memebr); Tammy Lopez, Tammy Lopez Agency; Jessica…

Castle Pines Eagle Scout Connor Newell designed and constructed eight raised vegetable garden beds as an Eagle Scout project for Highland Elementary School. By Elizabeth Wood West (Photo provided by Newell family) Fourteen is a pretty young age to be creating a legacy. However, Castle Pines resident and recent Eagle Scout Connor Newell did just…

Families at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) were invited to share a Thanksgiving feast with their fifth graders, compliments of Sue Lawson (seated front right) and her nutrition services team. Lawson served up turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, cranberry sauce, salad, rolls and spice cake to an overflowing cafeteria crowd on Thursday, November 17.…

Real Colorado’s plans for a 22-acre soccer complex in Parker. The first field will be complete and ready for play in March. By Lisa Crockett with illustration courtesy of Real Colorado The first synthetic turf field in the 22-acre Real Colorado Park soccer complex should be ready for its first players on March 1, 2012.…

by Liane Marette Davis La Sandia Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar (la sandia meaning watermelon in Spanish), is the place to be with its dazzling décor and upbeat atmosphere. Relax in the comfortable, colorful dining room or take the stairs to the spacious rooftop bar and patio. Enjoy the beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains…

RTD’s preferred route alignment that was selected in 2010 for a light rail transit system from Lincoln Station, to Sky Ridge Medical Center, the future Lone Tree Town Center down to RidgeGate Parkway. By Patte Smith with excerpts from the RTD Scoping Booklet The Regional Transportation District (RTD) has initiated an Alternatives Analysis (AA) and…

Bead it! owner Laurel Mueller works with customers at the bead bar. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan If you enjoy beautiful jewelry but don’t enjoy the cost, try making creative beautiful items with help from the friendly owner and employees at “Bead it!” near Park Meadows. Bead it!, which has been in the area…

Ashton, Connor and Cooper — the Buffalo Ridge boys hanging out! (photo courtesty of Mrs. Brester, Mrs. Herzog and Mrs. Jacoway). Article by Josh Harmon, BRE Ridgeline Staff Reporter Everybody knows the tale of The Three Little Pigs, but does anybody know the story of the three little babies? Once there were three little babies…

Kaylee Schuler holding a very prized possession, her first published work as an author entitled “Midnight – A Wolf’s Tale”. Article by Jodi Anderson with photo courtesy of DCSM How many people believe they can write a book? Or wish they could? One young writer has made this dream a reality. Kaylee Schuler, a sixth…

    Firefighters work to protect life and property in the 2003 Cherokee Ranch Fire. Photo courtesy of Tim Tonge. Submitted by South Metro Fire Rescue Authority Wildfires, blizzards, house fires and even tornadoes sometimes threaten our communities and impact lives and properties. It is the job of South Metro Fire Rescue and other emergency services…

Submitted by Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff David A. Weaver is pleased to announce a new online citizen reporting system that will serve our citizens more efficiently and allow citizens to report certain crimes 24/7 online. After nearly two years of planning, CopLogic, our on-line reporting system, was launched without public fanfare on September 26.…

– Make sure packages are able to withstand processing without the contents or packaging breaking. – Cushion items with bubble wrap, newspaper, or “foam peanuts” so they do not shift during transit. – Wrap each item separately when packing more than one item in the same box. – Remove batteries from electronic devices and wrap…

Left to right: Tim McCloskey, head of installation, Kathy and Pete Bell- Owners By Tricia Wackerly with photo provided by Kathy Bell When Pete Bell was displaced from his job after 16 years in the medical device industry, he was forced to take stock and assess what his next career path would be. Would he…

Michelle Rafter and Jen Murdock Jacoway, of Creations by Jen and Michelle, show a handful of greeting card designs during their annual holiday open house on November 10. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Castle Pines North friends Jen Murdock Jacoway and Michelle Rafter, met as teachers at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) 10 years…

Maren Clark and Cambri Reisig are all smiles about their Oh Baby Cakes. This holiday-decorated batch includes chocolate icing with mini gingerbread men, crushed Whoppers, mini chocolate morsels, red and green frosting and sprinkles and more. Article and photo by Elean Gersack The entrepreneurial spirit is in the air and some Castle Pines ‘tweens are…

By Joe Gschwendtner Valerie Robson, Douglas County’s (DC) adult and aging services manager, and County Commissioner Jack Hilbert enthusiastically welcomed a nearly standing-room only audience to DC’s November 9 Summit on aging. Deeply invested in the issue, Hilbert gave firm assurances that the county will be proactive in meeting senior needs. With practiced political flair,…

    Information provided by Douglas County Libraries On Tuesday, November 29, representatives of Douglas County Libraries accepted generous donations from Interstate Highway Construction and The Canyons, and publicly thanked both organizations for their support of Castle Pines Library. The event was attended by key members of the donating businesses, Castle Pines Library staff, and the…

RCHS senior, Ryan McGavin, attended the 2011 Western States Honor Orchestra Festival last month in Greeley.      RCHS junior, Nikki Pataroque, pictured right, shortly after the concert at UNC, attended the WHSOF for her second year in a row as a violinist. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of the McGavin and Pataroque…

Photo and caption by Amy Shanahan The new War Veteran Memorial Plaza in downtown Castle Rock was dedicated on Veteran’s Day, November 11th. The ceremony was attended by several hundred veterans, their families, friends, and members of the community. After a moving dedication speech by Korean War veteran Henry Bohne, the seven flags were raised…

Members of the law firm Folkestad Fazekas Barrick & Patoile receive the prestigious Patriot Certificate of Appreciation. Press release and photo submitted by Folkestad Fazekas Barrick & Patoile, P.C On October 13, several representatives from the Employers Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presented the law firm of Folkestad Fazekas Barrick & Patoile, P.C.…

Press release and photo submitted by Friends of Los Pisingos Throughout November and December, five Castle Pines elementary school children will be raising money for the Los Pisingos Orphanage in Bogota, Colombia. They have teamed up with Lynch Creek Farms to sell holiday decorations. Kristen Anderson says, “We are doing this to help raise money…

The Castle Rock Community Ringers Handbell Choir will host a holiday concert and dessert on Friday evening, November 18. The evening promises to be a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. The hand bell choir is directed by Nick Rossi, Director of Worship and Arts at New Hope Presbyterian Church. They will be…

Four 7th grade students from the Expeditioners team brought in the most donations during the Read-a-thon: (l to r) Sarah Elizabeth Falkenstine, Rachel Slavik, Graham Voetberg, and Megan Pitman Article and photo by Amy Shanahan The generosity of students and parents at RHMS was evident as the seventh graders made life a little bit better…

Taylor (left) and Corinne (right) Stordahl at the National American Miss Pageant earlier this year. Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of the Stordahl family Corinne Stordahl and older sister Taylor have something in common; they are sisters in pageants. After participating in the National American Miss Pageant earlier this year, 13 year old…

Sisters and breast cancer survivors Anne Ruybal (right) and Tess Balsley (left) plan to compete alongside each other at the Ironman Triathlon Arizona on November 20. Together they hope to raise $140,600 toward finding a cure. By Amy Shanahan, photo courtesy of Anne Ruybal Anne Ruybal and her sister Teresa “Tess” Balsley are both breast…

Killian Ridder and Carly Stordahl having fun with constructing their solar contraption. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos by Leanne Weyman American Academy (AA) sixth graders have been busy for the last two weeks working on their current Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) project, which is the Junior Solar Sprint Car. Applying the engineering…

    by Tricia Wackerly Operation Bright Star is once again gearing up to provide Thanksgiving meals for the Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center and the Douglas County Task Force. This will be its third year. Operation Bright Star delivered 16 full Thanksgiving meals to the Douglas County Task Force in 2009 and 29 full…

Steve and Kelly Durie each enjoy a glass of their passion on the deck of their Glen Oaks home in Castle Pines.  by Tricia Wackerly with photo provided by Kelly Durie It has been said that to truly be successful you should love what you do every day. Castle Pines residents Steve and Kelly Durie…

Article by Kathy Dunker Nearly 400 people attended the 4th Annual Best in the West Chili Championship last month in Castle Pines Village – sponsored by the Rotary Club of Castle Pines. For three hours, attendees got to sample the various chili concoctions from the 23 teams who entered and then cast a vote for…

by Lisa Crockett Castle Pines area residents who have a hankering for a Taco Bell taco, burrito or other meal choice will now have a convenient way to “make a run for the border.” A new Taco Bell is slated to open in the Circle K store on Castle Pines Parkway (in the space formerly…

Information submitted by John Keith, Lone Tree; Reprinted in part from press release The community of RidgeGate will soon welcome its newest home builder with ParkSide at RidgeGate, a joint venture between Harvard Communities and Berkeley Homes. The new single-family neighborhood, which will ultimately include 31 homes, is currently under construction. A model home will…

REAL U11 Red Team donning their championship medals at the Vail Cup on October 2. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of the Fuchs family The Vail Valley Soccer Club’s 12th Annual Vail Cup attracted more than 1,600 players on 100 teams to this October 1-2 event. Many local players, accompanied by parents, siblings…

Information provided by Douglas County Between 2010 and 2015, residents age 60 and older will increase by almost 47 percent in Douglas County. Join local and regional community leaders for an information and planning summit and or dialogue as to what Douglas County communities can do to become the model of an outstanding livable community…

Amy Long (left), Cherie Ellingson (center) and Aspen Walker (right) at home at the Castle Pines Library Information provided by Douglas County Libraries Castle Pines has had a library to call its own for just more than two years. In that time, the community has come to expect personal and friendly service, in addition to…

by Elean Gersack As part of Vail Resorts and the Epic Pass program, the School of Shred will offer fifth and sixth graders the opportunity to ski free at resorts along the 1-70 corridor this season. Students who sign-up for the pass between now and November 6 will receive four free ski days at Keystone,…

by Joe Gschwendtner One of Castle Pines’ newest businesses is the Extra Mile Family Office. Headed up by CEO Kevin Grenier, Extra Mile (EM) offers concierge management services to the 60-year-old and older demographic group in the Denver area. Historically, a family office is a tool of the wealthy – a business office allowing the…

Castle Rock Starlighting Saturday, November 19 The historic Castle Rock Starlighting will be held on Saturday, November 19, on Wilcox Square in downtown Castle Rock. Festivities for the entire family will start at 10 a.m. and last all day leading up to the lighting ceremony, which will begin at 5 p.m. Visitors will enjoy all…

Josh Wright with his older sister celebrating the fundraising accomplishments for “Rachel’s Racers” in the annual Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes. By Amy Shanahan, photo courtesy of Sharon Majetich Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) sixth grader Josh Wright was inspired to help his sister Rachel, an eighth grader who has diabetes. Each year, Josh…

A puppy hoping for adoption, receives some loving attention. Over 400 people attended the adoption event. Article and photos by Amy Shanahan Thirty orphaned dogs and cats found new loving homes at the 3rd annual adopt-a-thon sponsored by the Petsense store in the Castle Rock Outlet mall October 1st and 2nd. The “Forever Home 2011”…

by Elizabeth Wood West “Beading is my creative outlet. I am a land use planner by day – beader by night,” joked Castle Pines resident and Beadacious Beads owner Carol Kuhn. Kuhn’s hobby-turned business is making custom beaded jewelry, specializing in sterling silver and gold-filled metals mixed with semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls, and Swarovski crystals.…

Matt Pearson and Bryce Vrabel proudly display their medals after placing second and third in their age group in the Denver Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon. By Amy Shanahan, photo courtesy of Cameron Randolph The Rock N Roll Marathon and 1/2 Marathon took place in Denver on October 9th, and among the top finishers were…

By Amy Shanahan, artwork courtesy of Bill Hueg The new War Veteran’s Plaza in downtown Castle Rock will honor all six military branches and veterans of all wars, including those who have served, are currently serving, and who will serve their country in the future . The plaza is located on the corner of Wilcox…

Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting Ceremony By Amy Shanahan with photo by Tim Gamble Come and experience the fresh cuisine and specialty wine list offered at the new Grill at the Pines, located in the Village Shops at Castle Pines. This wonderful new restaurant opened in late summer and is sure to please…

RCHS Varsity Girls Team:  (Back row – left to right)  Emily Huber, Megan Cooney, Cassandra Hardy, Anna Woosley, Amy Arbuckle, Char Jackman, Sidney Fleecs, Mia Piccolotti.  (Front row) Kaylyn Mondschein-Snook, Kassidy Vatter, Abigail Fuselier.   Not pictured Hailey Olcott. Article and photos by Elizabeth Wood West The Rock Canyon High School Jaguars Cross Country boys and…

By Tracy Dudley Locally-owned South Metro Volleyball has partnered with Castle Pines school American Academy to create a synergistic relationship in youth sports. Since inception more than five years ago, South Metro Volleyball has been serving cities in the south part of the metro area like Englewood, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Parker and Castle Rock. Traditionally,…

Eagle Scout Marston Tweed constructed an outdoor classroom for DCS Montessori School. By Elizabeth Wood West, photo provided by the Tweed family Fourteen-year-old Castle Pines resident and Eagle Scout Marston Tweed has been involved in the Castle Pines community most of his life. Tweed began Scouting as a Tiger Cub with Castle Pines Pack 826…

Rocky Heights Middle school student Landon Roberts practices parkour by executing stunts in a park in downtown Denver. “Parkour helped me open my mind to new ideas and new ways to look at things. It makes me feel free and the physical and mental challenges keep me hooked on it.” – Landon Roberts By Amy…

Author and teacher Steve Paulding hosted a book signing at Timber Trail Elementary’s fall book fair. Paulding’s latest book Life Lessons from Andy Wink, is nominated for a Newberry Award. From left: Steve Paulding, Ben Crockett, Kendall Black, Kalyn Black and Nora Crockett. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Steve Paulding is something of a…

by Tricia Wackerly with photos provided by Kristi Lindquist and Lisa Crockett Races with extreme obstacles attached; harsh, tough, push you to your limit type races. These extreme “mud” races are popping up in cities across the nation. So is this a fad or is it a trend that is here to stay? Now, not…

By Patte Smith The Women’s Crisis & Family Outreach Center (WCFOC) is reaching out to the local community to sponsor families for its 2011 Adopt-a-Family program. “Each year we ask the community to help us provide a nice holiday for our clients, especially the children,” says Renee Forsythe, community outreach coordinator for the center. The…

Jim Blane Press Release submitted by Kim Brandon, photo courtesy of The Greatest Generations Foundation “You ask, how we got through it?” questioned Jim Blane, a WWII veteran who survived the battle of Iwo Jima. “ I don‘t know that we did. Only three of us survived when so many others didn‘t. We were foxhole…

Castle Pines residents, Sadie and Tebow, enjoy a frolicking swim at Chatfield Reservior’s off leash dog area. Information provided by Douglas County While the Castle Pines community is rich with open space and trails on which to take canine companions, Douglas County leash laws require any dog outside of a fenced yard to be kept…

By Elizabeth Wood West with photos provided by the Colorado State Forest Service As you ready your trees, shrubs, and gardens for winter, take the time to carefully inspect your ponderosa, lodge pole, Scotch, limber, bristlecone, and pinion pines for signs of the dreaded Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB). This Colorado native pest has devastated thousands…

December 10 Cielo at Castle Pines 303-688-9412www.dclivingtoysfortots.com

by Patte Smith Moe Karfarzadeh is very proud of his dry cleaning business, One Price $1.99 Cleaners. With more than eleven years of experience, Karfarzadeh has established three stores — his newest opened in Castle Pines in October. Located in the Safeway shopping center, the cleaners offers $1.99 dry cleaning and laundered shirts for only…

by Patte Smith A state-of-the-art aquatic and wellness facility is one of the newest projects being considered by The City of Lone Tree. Working in collaboration with HealthONE’s Sky Ridge Medical Center and the Colorado STARs swim program, the city is researching all aspects of a public and private partnership for the planning and construction…

By Elean Gersack with photos provided by Michael Martin Photography October was a celebratory month for hockey fans in Colorado as it capped off the remarkable career of Avalanche center, Peter Forsberg. His famous #21 jersey was retired during the team’s season opener against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, October 8, at the Pepsi…

Dukes wait staff Beth, Sue, and Ali. By Elizabeth Wood West with photos by Tim Gamble Dukes Steakhouse, a longtime Douglas County local favorite, is celebrating the one-year anniversary of moving to Castle Pines. To show its appreciation for the community’s warm welcome and a successful year, owners Neal Minarick and partner Craig Breeding will…

Submitted by Erin Kane, Head of School Parents interested in enrolling their child(ren) at American Academy (AA) for the 2012-2013 school year, please use the Enrollment/Registration Link on the left navigation of the AA website (www.americanacademyk8.org) to be added to the online waitlist no later than midnight, December 4. The 2012-2013 lottery will take place…

  by Elizabeth Wood West The Town of Castle Rock is pressing on with its North Meadows Extension project and public interest remains as strong as ever. After a well-attended open house in September, town officials are now advertising for a design consultant and will begin actual project design by the end of the year.…

Kim Butorac gets ready to head to Haiti with her collection of musical instruments that have been donated by many generous individuals. By Patte Smith with photo provided by Kim Butorac One person can make a difference in this world, and does. Surrey Ridge neighbor and music lover Kim Butorac is on her way to…

These fifth grade students used their creativity to create these wonderful projects. From left to right: Trevor used half of a basketball; Amanda made a cake for the class to enjoy and documented it on a poster board: and Ciara made hers out of a foam ball with clay. By Brie V., BRE Ridgeline Staff…

First grade spirit winner, Evan K. – along with his family show off crazy attire after the Rock Slide Fun Run. By Simon M., BRE Ridgeline Staff Reporter At Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE), something fun is always happening. On October 1, the annual spirit-filled Super Saturday was held. The Rock Slide Fun Run, the main…