Read the stories from the latest issue:
Article by Kathy Dunker with photo by Imagetek Photography Sunday, May 20, at Butterfield Park was no ordinary day. A whopping 484 kids participated in the seventh annual Tri the Rock Kid’s Triathlon, which adds up to 108 more kids than last year’s tri! The event raised nearly $5,000 for area physical education programs, as…
Article and photos by Birgit Moran Thinking of a trip? There are some basics to score great experiences and memories. No matter the type of trip; family, couple, adventure, rest and relaxation, or educational, research impacts results. For those who don’t mind surprises and missteps – a self planned itinerary can lend itself to wonderful…
Article by Kathy Dunker with photos by Desi Lederman Thanks to a committed director, Sierra Middlebrooks, production manager Benji Billman, many dedicated students, and even more supportive musical parents, American Academy (AA) thrilled its audience last month with the school’s performance of Beauty and the Beast Junior on May 4 and 5 at Front Range…
Article by Syd Charvat, as published in The Rock newspaper Throughout high school, students spend hours pouring over their textbooks to find the answer to a discussion question, scavenging across search engines for Sparknotes, and flipping through the pages of their chicken scratch notebooks, all in the hopes of seeing a hard earned letter “A”…
Article by Kathy Dunker with photos by Stacia Wilkins On Sunday, May 6, approximately 20 girls from Starstruck Academy of Dance put their dancing hearts to work. After a grueling weekend of late nights at the Tribute Dance Competition in Colorado Springs, the girls, ranging in age from 10 to 18, enthusiastically got up and…
By Elizabeth Wood West “In 2005, the Castle Pines Metropolitan District (CPMD) began working with Douglas County Engineering (DCE) consultants to address road safety and speeding concerns at the gated intersections on Happy Canyon Road in Castle Pines Village. At the request of DCE staff member Robert Kenny, roundabouts were added to the plan. According…
Contributed by Douglas County Libraries It’s no secret that kids who read during the summer months fare better on fall reading tests than kids who don’t. A great way to keep them reading is to participate in the Summer Reading Program at Douglas County Libraries. Beginning June 1, register the whole family online at DouglasCountyLibraries.org…
By Amy Shanahan, photo courtesy of BrynMaRae Photography The Castle Pines Connection covered a story in the December 2011 issue about “Homes for Our Troops,” and the recipient of a new home, retired Corporal Nick Orchowski. “Homes for Our Troops” is a nationwide, non-profit organization, which builds specially adapted homes for post-9/11 veterans with disabilities.…
Article and photos by Kathy Dunker Sunday, May 20, was the annual Castle Crocs summer swim team kick-off party at Coyote Ridge Park. The team moved up to the A Division this year in the Mountain High Swim League and look forward to some great competition at the upcoming meets. The Crocs, in its seventh…
Article and photos by Liz Jurkowski For those of you who have not yet discovered Elk Ridge Park, once you do, it may become your family’s go-to park of the summer. It has state-of-the art play areas, a multipurpose turf sport field, a water feature, as well as a rock climbing wall and picnic pavilions.…
Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Pennies, dimes and nickels. They’re worth so little that most of us let them sit around the house gathering dust in an old jar or lining the underside of the couch cushions. But students in Castle Pines recently went on a mission to recover small change around their homes.…
Students from Mexico wowed the audience at DCSM with their fancy dance in multi-colored dresses. Article by Jodi Anderson with photos courtesy of DCSM For twenty years, a private elementary school in Mexico has sent a group of six and seven year old students to Colorado. DCS Montessori (DCSM) is fortunate to have helped host…
Article by Kathy Dunker; photo by Tim Gamble “Eat chocolate every day, maintain a positive attitude and always keep your sense of humor!” Words to live by? Yes, and they seem to be working for Mary Cole, mother of Castle Pines resident, Toby Cole, from Topaz Vista. Mary Cole celebrated her birthday with a brunch…
Steve Cooke and Robyn Kuhlmann are excited to support schools in the Castle Rock & Castle Pines area with their new yogurt shop – Smart Cow Yogurt Bar. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Smart Cow Yogurt Bar (Smart Cow) joins several new eateries calling Castle Rock home. Located just east of I-25 and Founders…
New Head Coach, Christina Kwon (right), and new Head Assistant Coach, Kate Burns, both from Colorado Athletic Club are excited to be part of Storm swimming this summer. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Storm Swim Team Castle Pines Storm Swim Team is brewing as it make its way into summer with two…
Left: Eliot Nelson (left) who lives in Castle Pines Village, hanging out with his friend, Rhett, of King’s Crossing Right: Little Wade, trying out the monkey bars by Liz Jurkowski Hidden behind the Turquoise Terrace neighborhood on Daniel’s Gate Road is a quiet and delightful park. Daniel’s Gate Park was built in 2001, and includes…
Jacob Santos, Thomas Moran and Kyle Huebsh, from Castle Pines are assisting Clare Bridge Residents with fun activities. By Birgit Moran Douglas County high school students are required to complete 20 hours of community service to graduate. Teens and their families scramble to find the right place to volunteer. One place that attracts many different…
By Elizabeth Wood West with Sketch Plan provided by Northstar Development, LLC After two public hearings, the first of which was filled with several hours of opposing public testimony from Castle Pines Village and area residents, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted two to one to approve a revised version of Castle Pines Village…
Article by Elean Gersack with photos courtesy of Cari Ogg On Friday, April 13, more than 200 fathers and daughters filled the Buffalo Ridge Elementary School gymnasium for the school’s first Pops & Lollies daddy-daughter dance. David Bowman, director of the school’s before and after school enrichment program (B.A.S.E.) organized the event, which turned out…
Contributed by Sky Ridge Medical Center Sky Ridge Medical Center will start a $107 million dollar expansion that will add 90 beds, a women’s center, a new medical office building, additional spine/ortho operating rooms, and a parking structure. “As the first hospital to open in Douglas County, this expansion solidifies our original vision to become…
Future Academy Award hopefuls kick off the Buffalo Ridge fifth grade show “Cinemagic”on April 5. Article by Eli Smith, BRE Ridgeline Staff Reporter Lights, camera, action! On Thursday, April 5, fifth graders at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) performed an incredibly amazing show. The show was called “Cinemagic,” and it included songs and dances from…
by Patte Smith Grab the family, your friends, the picnic basket, the lawn chairs and blankets and head out to one of the many awesome outdoor concerts this summer featuring music and fun. Whether its jazz, rock, bluegrass or classical, there is something for everyone. The following list features the concert lineups for the Denver…
Fifth grader Meghan Hassler, one of twelve honor singers from Timber Trail Elementary, participated in a special daylong program at Legend High School in Parker that included rehearsal and a special performance. Article by Lisa Crockett, courtesy photos A dozen singers from Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) participated in a special day of rehearsal and performance…
A place close by to hike and play Article and photos by Liz Jurkowski Only twenty miles from Castle Pines lays a true gem of Colorado nature. Castlewood Canyon State Park offers families a day of hiking, playing, sightseeing and fun. Nestled in more than two thousand acres of the Black Forest, the park provides…
By Terri Wiebold John Denver is about as iconic a musician to Colorado as there has ever been. His passion and love for the outdoors and his respect for nature can be felt in the lyrics of the many songs he wrote. Most notibly, “Rocky Mountain High,” which became an official Colorado state song in…
Syra Taub was thrilled to attend Tourney Town and see her winning essay on display. By Amy Shanahan, photos courtesy of Dena Taub and Erin Millage Students at Rocky Heights recently participated in the Middle School Madness program, which encouraged the kids to learn from the positive examples set by women’s basketball athletes. The program…
By Patte Smith Surrey Ridge resident Jean Griswold is recruiting neighbors, friends and families in the Castle Pines and surrounding area to join “Team Zonta” to run or walk at the 8th Annual Miles for Moms Run/Walk to benefit Florence Crittenton Services. This event will be held at Sloan’s Lake Park in Denver at 8…
Robyn Appel in her Greenwood Village boutique, Rebel. Bright colors and funky belts and jewelry are what’s hot for spring. Article and photos by Amy Shanahan Light, casual, friendly and warm are words you might use to describe Robyn Appel upon meeting her. These happen to be the same things you feel when walking into…
Castle Pines resident Travis Grafitti and his partner Devin Lindsey (not pictured) won a Silver medal. By Amy Shanahan, photo courtesy of Brian Hall Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) had two teams participate in the state Science Olympiad tournament on April 21, and one of the teams placed 10th in the state! Science Olympiad is…
Many Castle Pines area ‘tweens and teens are taking part in Douglas County Cotillion held at the Wildlife Experience this Spring. This group of young ladies and gentlemen took time to pose after their Dining Etiquette program on Sunday, April 22. (photo by Elean Gersack)
Shown here are the individual fourth and fifth grade winners along side Science Fair Coordinator, Kristi Feret. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Congratulations to all of the participants of the first-ever Buffalo Ridge Elementary School Science Fair, Mission Green. The fair, held on Thursday, April 26, focused on environmentally conscious experiments and materials and…
By Lisa Crockett A Castle Pines church with deep roots in the community is moving just a few miles up the road to Lone Tree to spread its branches. Solid Life Church, which began eight years ago in the Castle Pines Community Center and then moved to Timber Trail Elementary School will begin holding Sunday…
These Castle Pines youngsters are ready and waiting … Submitted by Scott and Kelsey Lasher A crowd of approximately 1,000 Castle Pines residents filled their colorful baskets to the brim with eggs and prizes at Coyote Ridge Park on Saturday, March 31. The annual event was sponsored by Solid Life Church. More than 16,000 candy-filled…
Information provided by Douglas County; photo courtesy of the Larkspur Historical Society Recognizing and celebrating the month of May as Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month, Douglas County will offer a rare glimpse into the operation of one-room schools of the early 1900s with tours and an Open House of the historic Greenland School on Saturday,…
By Karissa Kelly If you are wondering how late minors can stay out, or all you teenagers need a refresher, listen up so you can be informed of the curfew time. Currently in the City of Castle Pines, the curfew for those under the age of eighteen is 11 p.m. on weekdays and 12 p.m.…
The seminar is sponsored by the Rural Water Authority of Douglas County. Wednesday May 2, 2012 Douglas County Events Center Conference Room 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Preregistration is required. The presentations will address: Groundwater Availability of the Denver Basin Aquifer System Water Law Adjudication What it Is and Isn’t Well…
A taste of…The Wooden Table By Liane Marette Davis Just a few miles south of Denver, tucked away in the Greenwood Village neighborhood is The Wooden Table. Owner Jane Duncan Knauf and chef Brett Shaheen partnered to bring you an Italian restaurant with modern decor, inviting ambiance, and tantalizing cuisine which offers seasonal fresh ingredients.…
DCSO offering awareness classes for parents Article by Elean Gersack Taking a picture or video and pressing send – or even just opening a text or an e-mail. It’s that easy for a child’s life to change forever. The high tech trend is called “sexting” and many seemingly innocent kids do not realize the consequences…
Kitty Migaki: “When I was ten, I wanted to write children’s books and be a librarian. I love that I ended up doing something I wanted to do as a child!” remarked author Kitty Migaki. By Amy Shanahan, photos courtesy of Kitty Migaki Kitty Migaki sees letters of the alphabet in all aspects of the…
The The Animal Care Centers of Castle Pines celebrated its ribbon cutting in April. Pictured are left to right: Dan Schatz, Mayor Jeff Huff, Jonathan James, Dr. Lindsay Crippen, Dr. Brook James, Dr. Jonathan Quint, Dr. Shawn Wayment, Rachael Lissuer, Dr. Lana Groom, Emily Edwards, and Dr. Cheryl Adams. Submitted by Castle Pines Chamber of…
Castle Rock’s Town Trolley will take passengers on a tour of historic landmarks on Saturday, May 19. (Photo provided by the Town of Castle Rock.) By Elizabeth Wood West In celebration of National Historic Preservation Month, the Town of Castle Rock is offering free Town Trolley tours of historic landmark properties on Saturday, May 19.…
RHMS students were happy to share “hugs” with those in need. “It was so easy for us to collect these stuffed animals, and great to know that they will be sent to children who need them,” remarked an NJHS student. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan During the week of April 2, Rocky Heights Middle…
Holding their “pieces of pi” are (left to right) Grant Hengsteler, Nicholas Pacheco, Amanda Scholz, Sarah Cree, Lauren Lee, Meredith Ham, and middle school math teacher, Benji Billman. Article by Katie Williams with photos courtesy of AA American Academy (AA) students love Pi. We’re talking about the number kind of Pi here, not the pastry,…
Positions are open on the Douglas County Veterans Monument Foundation Board of Directors. Members are required to attend weekly, one-hour board meetings and participate in planning and implementing various Foundation events and fundraising activities. Board position applicants are asked to submit a summary of their qualifications for board appointment. For more information, call Henry Bohne…
Stacy Gaines (right) coordinated the efforts of the many volunteers and items provided to put together the 450 Easter baskets given to those in need. By Amy Shanahan with photo courtesy of Stacy Gaines The “Easter Giving Project” was a huge success this year, thanks to many Castle Pines Connection readers. Organizer Stacy Gaines worked…
Aubrey Eggett was thrilled to be the recipient of such a prestigious honor. “I just thought, Oh my gosh, my hard work paid off! I was happily in shock. It’s hard to explain just how blessed I felt and still feel. This is a dream come true and I couldn’t be more grateful and ecstatic.…
A fundraising event for the Douglas County Veterans Monument initiative Polish that motocycle, grab your gear and get ready to ride in support of the Douglas County Veterans Monument. The 2012 DC Veterans Monument Poker Run and Harley Raffle will be on June 24. The poker run starts at the Castle Rock Bar & Grill…
By Patte Smith with contributed information from the Denver Dumb Friends League The Denver Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center located near Franktown Colorado is now open. One of only a handful of equine centers throughout the county, Harmony offers a safe haven for Colorado horses, ponies, donkeys and mules that have suffered from abuse…
The Easter bunny hopped all the way to the Surrey Ridge neighborhood park in April. Mr., or is it Mrs., Bunny hid eggs for the kids all through the park so when the kiddos arrived the hunt was on. They filled baskets, bags, and pockets with colorful plastic eggs full of goodies. There were coloring…
Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Farm to table dining was once available to most diners only at upscale restaurants. But this food philosophy that embraces all things fresh and locally-grown, is a passion at a new market in Greenwood Village, which supplies home cooks with tasty foods at competitive prices. Two Mile Ranch…
Submitted by Leadership Douglas County alum Carla Kenny with photos courtesy of Chamber of Commerce In April, the community partnered with the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Douglas County to participate in the Giving Tree Food Drive. Volunteers in Castle Pines staffed a donation station at King Soopers and collected 488 pounds of…
A Castle Pines resident flashes some cash she earned at a previous annual garage. By Kathy Dunker with photo by Tim Gamble Be sure to mark your calendar for the 22nd Annual Castle Pines North Master Association community-wide garage sale. The sale will run Friday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday,…
Timber Trail Education Association Co-President Jill Cook prepares gifts for faculty and staff at Timber Trail Elementary. The gifts were given during a week-long teacher appreciation event designed to honor educators at the school. The theme for the week was “Best in the West” and featured all things cowboy and western. Throughout the week, teachers…
By Patte Smith South Metro Fire Rescue Authority’s Life Safety Educator, Einar Jensen and Surrey Ridge HOA board member Jack LaPorte were interviewed by KDVR’s Hendrick Sybrandy about fire mitigation in Douglas County. The news story was aired on Tuesday, April 24 by Comcast Channel 13. “We discussed the important role that homeowners have in…
Liane Davis wears her symbolic crown necklaceas a reminder of her role in a unique ministry, Crowned by the King. By Liane Marette Davis Crowned by the King was founded in Conway, Arkansas by Judi James in 2007 after she received a crown necklace as a gift. As time passed, she realized that the necklace…
Douglas County invites residents to pick up free mulch – whiles supplies last – on Saturday, May 12 and on Saturday, May 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Castle Rock Water Treatment Plant, 1400 Caprice Dr. in Castle Rock. The County will provide a front-end loader to help load mulch into pickups…
Samuel and Savannah Hilgendorf in the Domincan Republic By Liz Jurkowski with photos courtesy of the Hilgendorf family It takes a couple of special kids to devote their spring break to helping others. Most relish the opportunity to sleep in, watch their favorite morning shows or go skiing over the break from school. Samuel and…
One of Matzat’s morning classes enjoying their baby chicks (pictured from left to right) back row: Matzat and Dylan; front row: Riley, Maddie, Adison, Skylar, Teddy, and Kyle. Article and photos by Kathy Dunker Terry Matzat, 17 year resident of HOA I, was an elementary school teacher when she left to raise her own two…
Democratic Caucus Chairperson Myron Clark was excited by the number of suggestions brought to the table by local party members. Discussions covered everything from the upcoming Presidential election, to a need to reduce emissions on automobiles. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Thursday, March 6 was an important day for members of the…
Submitted by the Ann Carter of the Women’s Crisis & Family Outreach Center The Women’s Crisis & Family Outreach Center (WCFOC), through its Young Citizens for Philanthropy (YCP) partnership, is launching its first Cycle Against Violence Bike Race on Saturday, May 19 in Castle Rock. Registration for this event will begin at 6:45 a.m. at…
Team “That Was Easy” is looking forward to competing at the Destination Imagination State Competition. Left to right: Ethan Taub, Landon Hogue, Nick Lombardi and Adam Kohl. Photo courtesy of Christina Kohl. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Rocky Heights Middle School took its first Destination Imagination teams to the Regional Tournament on March 10th.…
RCHS student, Devaraj Tripasuri, prepares his helicopter wing for the Science Olympiad. Science Olympians, Paul Bisesi and Devaraj Tripasuri, are working hard in the early stages of building their helicopter. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos by Matt Gracey Twenty six of Rock Canyon High School’s (RCHS’s) freshman and sophomore students attended the Southern Regional…
By Liane Marette Davis with photos provided by Tana Dolce Looks might fool you on the outside, but many charming treasures await you inside Tana Dolce. Upon entering, you will find it enchantingly decorated with romantic colors, chandeliers, cozy nooks, velvet and silks, intimate balconies, fireplaces, and an exquisite bar that makes you want to…
By Elizabeth Wood West After listening to several hours of compelling questions and concerns from the public, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) continued the public hearing for Castle Pines Village Sketch Plan (SB2011-036) to April 24 at 2:30 p.m. in the Philip S. Miller building, located at 100 Third Street in Castle Rock. The…
By Elizabeth Wood West The Outlets at Castle Rock (The Outlets) received unanimous approval on March 13 from the Town of Castle Rock for its request to increase the hours of operation for its LED sign from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The sign’s new hours of operation went into effect upon the town’s…
Information provided by the Douglas County Water Resource Authority Douglas County Water Resource Authority (DCWRA) has been awarded the 2012 Universities Council on Water Resources Award for Education and Public Service for the DCWRA “Water Ambassador” program. The Water Ambassador program is active in all high schools and elementary schools in the DCWRA region.…
Dream Team members show off special effects – a fake brain, a fake cut, and a helmet –they used to teach kids about keeping their brain safe during the Dream Team Health Fair on Feb. 24. By Bryce S., BRE Ridgeline staff reporter On February 24, the Dream Team at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE)…
Studio B Interiors owner Bren Hendren is enjoying selling her products to a new customer base, and believes that there is something for everyone in her varied selection of fanciful items. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Studio B Interiors, located in Castle Pines in the Safeway shopping center, is an outstanding choice if you…
(Left to right) Castle Pines Rotary Club President A.J. Arnett, Castle Rock High Noon Rotary Club President Christina Brigham, and Castle Rock Rotary Club President Ed Brewer get their thousands of rubber duckies in a row for the 16th Annual Ducky Derby and Street Festival. By Elizabeth Wood West The Castle Rock Rotary Club, Castle…
Contributed by GreenEarth Cleaners Millions of people around the world will be observing Earth Day on Saturday, April 22. “Earth Day is a special day in our store because it reminds us that we are making a positive contribution to our planet every day by using GreenEarth® instead of traditional drycleaning solvents,” said Thyfault. “Earth…