The Connection

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…

By Lisa Crockett Earth-friendly practices are a cornerstone of how business is done at Green Earth Cleaners, and its fall charity drive incorporates one of the most effective “green” techniques – recycling. During the months of October and November, Green Earth will give a $5 coupon to patrons who donate winter coats to be distributed…

On September 10, the RCHS Poms Squad (joined by their dads) held a community car wash at Daz Bog in Castle Pines.

by Elizabeth Wood West (Maps provided by COGCC) People in Douglas County are buzzing about fracking.  What is fracking?  Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is 60-year old process used to extract oil and gas from underground shale formations.  Millions of gallons of water (90%), sand (9%) and trace chemicals (1%) are pumped into deep shale formations at…

St. Francis of Assisi’s new church sanctuary will be open to the public on September 30 and October 1. By Elizabeth Wood West (Artist’s rendering provided by St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church) St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Castle Rock will be hosting an Oktoberfest Open House for the public on Friday, September…

Retiring Douglas County K-9 Unit dogs: Axel (left) is ten years old and has been with the DCSO since 2003. Leon, 9 1/2 years old, is certified in patrol and narcotics detection.     Press Release submitted by Friends of Douglas County K-9, photos courtesy of Allison Shaw The first ever Friends of Douglas County K-9…

  Kevin Milan Information provided by Becky O’Guinn, SMFRA A fire captain with a unique background in architecture, education, training, and firefighting has been selected as the new fire marshal for the South Metro Fire Rescue Authority. The appointment of Kevin Milan was announced September 21 by Assistant Chief Mike Dell’Orfano. Milan, who currently serves…

Castle Pines Mayor Jeff Huff (left) presents a check for $25,000 from the City of Castle Pines to Amy Hunt, president of the Douglas County Libraries Board of Trustees. The contribution was made to the campaign being waged by area residents to raise $100,000 to keep the Castle Pines Library open for the next three…

By Amy Shanahan, logo courtesy of Tony’s Market The Shops at the Village in Castle Pines will be crowded with bicyclists on Sunday, October 2, as more than 150 cyclists stop in on their way to completing a 71 mile bicycle tour throughout the Denver area. Tony’s Market is holding it’s 2nd annual “Tony’s to…

A view from the tram over the Arkansas River looking north to the Royal Gorge bridge, suspended 956 feet off the ground. by Joe Gschwendtner Need a new day trip or weekend venue? How about Canon City? Some actually spend time there willingly… Canon City’s charm borders on the eclectic. The prison scene is a…

CPV resident #41 Eric Williams is off to an amazing start this season. Playing both offense and defense, Williams makes an interceptionat the September 9 varsity game against Dakota Ridge. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos by Rock Canyon Photos Coming back from a 21-27 loss against Montrose on August 26, the Rock Canyon High…

Open house attendees signed up to receive updates and reviewed data about the North Meadows Extension. Article and photo by Elizabeth Wood West Dozens of people crowded around presentation boards and quizzed Town of Castle Rock, Douglas County, and other representatives at a recent North Meadows Extension open house. The event followed the town’s release…

By Chris Bonham Douglas County schools are among the best in the nation. One thing that is essential to a good school system is a good school board. In November, it will be up to parents and residents of Douglas County to select who will fill the three seats up for grab on the school…

Retired Army Corporal Nick Orchowski and his wife Jamie (left front) meet with the Douglas County Rotarians At Work committee. By Chris Bonham with photo provided by Susan Vanderhill The motto of Rotary International is stated as “Service Above Self.” And, in the case of members of the Douglas County Rotary Club, this motto has…

By Elizabeth Wood West The Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is hosting a Harvest Days fall festival at historic Lowell Ranch on October 15 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The celebration will feature a “u-pick” pumpkin and gourd patch, hay rides, carriage rides, historic tours of the ranch and (weather permitting) sales of fresh…

Information provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Upcoming Halloween Weekend DUI Saturation Patrol The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will be stepping up our efforts to apprehend intoxicated and impaired drivers during the up-coming Halloween weekend, which takes place the weekend of October 28th.  Deputies will be providing extra enforcement from Friday, October 28 through…

Quinn Kennedy and Lauren Wearsch Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Cindy Baker Being a part of the Drama Club at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) is no easy task.  Simultaneously preparing for a number of productions, the thespians work hard to play hard at their school presentations. Most of the backstage student…

Music hopeful and every-day Castle Pines teen Maddie Krawiec takes a break during a Los Angeles studio recording session cutting her first single, “Being Me.” By Tricia Wackerly with photos provided by Judy Krawiec Sixteen-year-old Maddie Krawiec’s singing career seems to be headed in a direction she could only once dream about. This past July,…

Gina B. Masterson Folkestad Fazekas Barrick & Patoile, P.C. is pleased to announce that Gina B. Masterson has joined the Firm. Ms. Masterson is a real estate and transactional attorney with more than 15 years of legal experience. Her practice focuses on a broad range of transactions and finance matters; including but not limited to…

Smith at the Clovis, CA pool during the Western Zones meet in July wearing the first place medal she earned during the Long Course State Championship meet. by Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of the Smith family Congratulations to Shayna Smith, the local fifth-grader featured in the February issue of The Castle Pines Connection for her…

by Lisa Crockett In November, Douglas County voters will cast their votes in a coordinated election, which will include a vote for Castle Pines city council members and other municipal and county-wide issues. As of press time, ballot language and issues had not been finalized. The all-mail election culminates on Election Day, Tuesday, November 1.…

Fifth graders Logan and Samuel are thrilled to have a chance to ski free this winter! By Elean Gersack with photo courtesy of Laurie Jacobs It’s almost time to pack up the car and head to the snow covered hills. In a few short weeks, snow will blanket the mountains and snowmaking machines will add…

by Alonso D., BRE Ridgeline Staff Reporter September 30 through October 6 the BRE Fall book fair will be held and everyone is exited! With the new theme, To The Book Fair And Beyond, this might just be the best book fair yet. This year, the book fair will be held in the gym. Come…

Final concrete pours on the roadway in July The final phase of the Hess Road Extension Project is to make improvements to the existing I-25/Castle Pines Parkway interchange. This phase involves installing new traffic signals at both the northbound and southbound on-off ramps, making a minor widening of the northbound on-ramp and re-striping Castle Pines…

Assistant Principal Kelly Kirkpatrick gets soaked in a game of “Flush ‘Em” during the magazine sales. Top sellers for that day had the chance to take their best shot at teachers and staff. by Amy Shanahan with photo by Scott Melanson Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) recently held its annual magazine sale fundraiser and was…

The Rock Slide is back at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE)! This 5K and 1-mile family fun run/walk is planned for Saturday, October 1, beginning at 9 a.m. Come out and support the school by cheering for students as they race around the Castle Pines neighborhood. Be on the lookout and help keep participants safe during…

“He was not just an Eagle Waste trash collector, he was part of our community.  Everyone in this neighborhood knew him in some way, and he will truly be missed.”  Neighbors, family and friends gathered in the Daniels Gate community to celebrate the life of service provider Brian Rojas.  Rojas will be remembered as a…

Angie Stevens performed several of her songs, including those that the kids used to produce their own music videos. By Amy Shanahan with photos courtesy of Scott Melanson The Nighthawk Television (NHTV) students from Rocky Heights Middle School were given a unique opportunity to film a music video for a local musician. Angie Stevens is…

The Siddiqui family (left to right) –Aliyah, Saeed, Mikail, Regina, and Kadin. By Elizabeth Wood West (photo from the Siddiqui family) Gold is one of the beautiful fall colors of September. How fitting that gold, a color associated with the passing of a season, is also the official color for Childhood Cancer and that September…

Fifth Grade teacher Jolie Pinke defends herself from a sponge water attack by one of her students while visiting the Brazil rain forest during the BRE Amazing Race. by Molly S., BRE Ridgeline Staff Reporter with photo by Elean Gersack Buffalo Ridge celebrated another great year of school by hosting a field day.  The “Amazing…

Canyons Community Church, formerly Christ the King Presbyterian Church. By Elizabeth Wood West with photo provided by Canyons Community Church Canyons Community Church, formerly Christ the King Evangelical Presbyterian Church, opened its doors earlier this year at its new location, 2.1 miles north of Founders Parkway and I-25 at 4825 Crowfoot Valley Road. The newly…

The character of Rhoda was played by sophomore Lauren Wearsch (left); the character of the mom, Christine was played by sophomore Quinn Kennedy. Article by RCHS sophomore and drama student Rachel Zetwick with photo by Amy Shanahan Rock Canyon High School students worked hard to put on a great show-and gave the audience some chills…

Brady Wiesner by Amy Shanahan, photos courtesy of Michelle Wiesner Brady Wiesner doesn’t just walk across a room, he literally dances. Wiesner, a resident of Castle Pines Village and an eighth grader at Cherry Hills Christian School, is a World Champion Irish dancer. “I began dancing in the third grade because I wanted to be…

Champions in the school’s annual Mother-Son kickball tournament. More than 130 mother-son pairs participated in the event. by Lisa Crockett Fall fundraisers at Timber Trail Elementary have combined fun, physical fitness and community spirit and achieved great results. Participants in the school’s first-ever Move-A-Thon. The event raised more than $59,000, making it the school’s most…

by Elizabeth Wood West Castle Pines Community Church (CPCC) is inviting the public to share in the spirit of giving this holiday season by participating in Operation Christmas Child – giving shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies, and personal items to needy children all over the world.  Operation Christmas Child is an annual event put…

DCSM Courageous Cougars are ready for action at the school’s Fun Run on September 9. Art ice and photos submitted by Jodi Anderson What happens when you mix premier Colorado weather, running for a purpose, and unbridled enthusiasm? You get a day filled with laughter and physical activity all in the name of raising funds…

Guests mingled and enjoyed the spectacular view of the Front Range from the Country Club at Castle Pines new terrace. By Amy Shanahan, photos courtesy of The Country Club at Castle Pines The much-anticipated unveiling of a new expanded terrace at The Country Club at Castle Pines on September 16 wowed the more than 300…

Castle Rock Lowe’s store manager, Mike McGinley Article and photo by Amy Shanahan If you need a helping hand while shopping at Lowe’s in Castle Rock, Mike McGinley is happy to help. McGinley was recently named the new store manager and he is excited to be a part of this community. McGinley, born and raised…

Provided by and space purchased by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Wings of Hope, a benefit for increased awareness and research for pancreatic cancer, will have as its special guest speaker SR-71 Pilot Brian Shul, author of the nationally acclaimed “Sled Driver.” A highly sought and renowned speaker throughout the country, Brian Shul will share…

By Elizabeth Wood West (Artist’s rendering provided by Bonaventure Senior Living) Bonaventure of Castle Rock has begun construction on its new 9.3-acre continuing care campus and is hosting a post-groundbreaking party for the public on Thursday, October 27 at 11 a.m. The campus is located at 1855 Low Meadow Boulevard, just south of The Meadows…

By Lisa Crockett If you buy groceries or fill your gas tank, then you can support a good cause. Several community groups, including the Castle Pines Library and all four of the Castle Pines Elementary Schools (American Academy, Buffalo Ridge, DCS Montessori, and Timber Trail), offer “scrip” cards that can be used to purchase groceries…

Article by Kathy Dunker with photos by Tim Gamble It was a beautiful 80 degree fall day in Colorado at the 10th annual Castle Pines Octoberfest hosted by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce in the Safeway parking lot. Friends and neighbors joined in the fun with a variety of merchants, food, games, beer, wine,…

Business owner Terri Wiebold hams it up, bringing “fun and sass” to the catwalk while modeling business attire at the Sassy Soiree fundraising event held September 16 to benefit the Douglas/Elbert Task Force. Article and photos by Elean Gersack The eighth annual Sassy Soiree, held on Friday, September 16, brought the community together to support…

Students at Timber Trail Elementary are being recognized by a national organization called Kids Care Clubs for their service to the community and outreach to needy individuals. Here, students present a banner made by Timber Trail students to honor local fire fighters on the anniversary of 9/11. Article by Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Timber…

By Elizabeth Wood West Centura Health’s Administrator for the Castle Rock Adventist Health Campus, Brian Moore, was joined by staff and local officials on September 7 at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of the healthcare provider’s new facility. More than 1,300 people attended the Castle Rock Adventist Health Campus open house. Attendees…

The Partnership of Douglas County Governments signs a Disaster-Emergency Mutual Aid and Disaster-Emergency Resources Assistance IGA. Signing members include (left to right)) Sherilyn West, mayor of Larkspur; Vicky Starkey, board member, Highlands Ranch Metro District; Douglas County Sheriff David Weaver; Jim Gunning, mayor of Lone Tree; Steven Boand, Douglas County commissioner; William Moffitt, executive director…

Coming in November! Village Fitness presents Zumbathon Charity Event to benefit Homes for Our Troops. Information and registration available online at www.avfitness.org/ZumbathonHFOT.html. Kids for Zumba Charity event will take place the same day prior to the Adult Zumbathon. About Homes for Our Troops: Homes for Our Troops is a national non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization founded…

By Liane Marette Davis Looking for fun activities for the whole family? Just in time for fall festivities and Halloween, ColoradoKids.com launches its annual Halloween guide. Have not heard of ColoradoKids.com? It is a parent’s wonderful online resource that offers a wide range of more than 400 family or children related businesses that post online…

The Bundt Shoppe and The Castle Pines Connection would like to recognize and honor our local United States Armed Forces service members, veterans, and their families again this fall. Beginning October 1, stop by the Bundt Shoppe and make a contribution to provide a cake for a military service member or veteran. With your $10…

Volunteers for the Castle Pines Library Campaign were honored by the Denver chapter of DOVIA (Directors of Volunteers in Agencies) for their volunteer service.  The committee, from left: Vicky Kellen, Warren Lynge, Carla Kenny, Linda Day, and Sharon Kollmar with Matt Gray, Vice President of DOVIA.      by Lisa Crockett with photos by Lisa Crockett…

Lyla Padden in the kitchen of her home business Flour G.       by Amy Shanahan “Take an X-Ray of me, my heart is pure cupcake” is the quote that Lyla Padden uses to describe herself. Padden is a sixth grader at Rocky Heights Middle School, and is the proud owner of Flour Gal, a…

Erik Phillips, Owner by Tracy Dudley with photos provided by Erik Phillips With an extensive background in conditioning professional athletes such as Steve Nash and Shaquille O’Neal, Erik Phillips has developed a passion for injury prevention. When Erik met Dr. Craig Keyes of United Healthcare, an authority on the prevalence of sports related injury insurance…

By Lisa Crockett Thanksgiving is all about tradition – turkey with all the trimmings, buttery rolls and fluffy mashed potatoes, and of course a piece of pie slathered in whipped cream to top it all off.  But even though these foods have been part of the national cannon of traditional foods for centuries, they can…

Damage to the wood shingle roof from a lightning strike.     South Metro Fire Rescue units responded to the 911 call. By Amy Shanahan with photos provided by South Metro Fire Rescue Shana Nelson, a resident of Castle Pines will never forget her experience on August 3rd. Nelson had gone out for a run shortly…

Michael Weingartner, the new head golf pro at The Ridge at Castle Pines North, stands next to the 18th hole pin. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Michael Weingartner has been named head golf pro at The Ridge at Castle Pines North (The Ridge). Now in his third year there, Weingartner worked his way up…

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION CONTEST – HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS The NSDAR awards multiple scholarships to students showing dedication to the pursuit of degrees in diverse disciplines including: ·      Economics ·      Medicine ·      Education ·      Nursing ·      Government ·      Physical Therapy ·      History ·      Political Science ·      Law ·     American Indian Scholarships Please check the…

  This newspaper clipping shows Leonard Rivkin demonstrating the Strolee National Safety Car Seat for Children – the car seat that started the evolution of child safety seats as we know them today. By Elean Gersack with newspaper clipping provided by Jason Rivkin This month is national car seat safety month. With it comes the…

By Elizabeth Wood West; photo by Kate Jones Wellspring Community participants and dance instructor Jenette Smith perform their dance routine for friends and family during the non-profit’s recent Summer Celebration. The dance classes incorporate brain integration therapy, and are just one of several social, educational, and job training enrichment programs offered to young adults with…