Read the stories from the latest issue:
Information provided by Douglas County with photo stills taken from Comcast Newsmakers Veteran broadcast journalist Beverly Weaver (pictured above right) recently interviewed Douglas County Commissioner Jill Repella in a Comcast Newsmakers segment that aired on CNN Headline News. Repella discussed the role of the county in fostering a strong economy; the value of a healthy…
Sky Ridge Medical Center will host the 9Health Fair on Saturday, April 16, from 7a.m. to 12p.m., to promote health awareness with free and low-cost health and educational screenings . Take time to get checked-out. I n addition to having t he opportunity to speak with a medical professional , a variety of screenings are…
A taste of … Gabriel’s in Sedalia Article and photo by Liane Marette Davis The quaint town of Sedalia is home to The Manhart Manor, an inviting 1900’s Victorian home, built in 1889 for the Manhart family (who ran the local mercantile business), and now houses a delicious gem. Gabriel’s is a locally owned and…
On Saturday, March 12, 2011, nearly 200 citizens of Castle Pines joined with members of the city council and city staff for a pancake breakfast to celebrate the city’s third anniversary. As the event unfolded, it was evident how far the city has come in three short years. Thanks to the perseverance and the commitment…
By Joe Gschwendtner Depending upon whom you ask, a house can be either an asset or a liability. In recent years, the real estate market and mortgage meltdown has left many homeowners answering the latter. Since home is where the heart is, pride ensues, and financial difficulties are all too often not addressed until it…
Deputy Gerritt Kaufman with K-9 crime fighter “Boris.” The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team is in great need of donations to replace two of the four police dogs that will be retiring this year. Sheriff Weaver recently approved the acquisition of one new dog and says he is hopeful to secure a second. The…
Kids of all ages joined Sarah Byrne (pictured center) at the HOA2 playground in Castle Pines to celebrate a generational reunion of sorts. Byrne has provided pre-kindergarten and kindergarten enrichment programs in the community for more thirteen years, and she is a beloved teacher and friend to many. Article and photos by Elean Gersack Three…
Article by Elean Gersack with photo and logo provided by Cherry Creek Sneak Denver’s traditional leap into spring event, The Cherry Creek Sneak, will take place on Sunday, May 1, beginning at 8 a.m. at the intersection of Steele and Ellsworth. This year’s trek around Cherry Creek will support The Kempe Foundation and its mission…
Executive Chef Brian Dennis Article by Sally Uhrich with photos by Tim Gamble “We are so excited to welcome Executive Chef Brian Dennis to our team,” said Kim Bartuccio, director of membership and communication for the Country Club at Castle Pines. “In his short time with us, we have already seen many new culinary delights…
Rock Canyon High School teacher and athletic coach Chris Page received the surprise of his life when staff from The Ellen DeGeneres Show stopped by a school basketball game to present Page with a new car and $10, 000 worth of gift cards to Office Depot for the school. Page was selected after hundreds of…
by Lisa Crockett The Timber Team, Timber Trail Elementary’s student leadership group, found a way to combine two great objectives in one ambitions project. They offered heart-shaped lollipops to students to buy for their friends and turned a tidy profit to be used to benefit the school. “I think this is great that we can…
The Castle Pines North Metro District provides the information on this page as a public service for the people of Castle Pines North “Slow the Flow” Program an Impressive Success CPNMD partnered last year with the Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC) and its professional water audit teams to evaluate sprinkler system operations and efficiencies for…
Submitted by Cindy Baker, RCHS Drama Teacher Dearly Departed – April 13 & 14: RCHS drama presents a FREE performance of the comedy, “Dearly Departed,” which is the story of a quirky family that is reunited for a funeral, and all of the hilarious family dynamics that ensue. “Dearly Departed” will be double cast with…
Mrs. Lang’s second graders, Kyle, Ellery and Andrew stand in front of the Comic Life “Anti-Cyberbullying” display they created in the technology hallway. Article and photo by Elean Gersack The Internet is here to stay. That means social networking, blogging, texting, e-mail and online searches will become second nature to today’s children. At Buffalo Ridge…
Back Row: Samuel Hilgendorf (Mrs. Herzog); Max Larson (Mrs. Pinke); Ann Gibson (Mr. Jenson); Ashley Owen (Mrs. Phelan). Middle Row: Casidee Gonzales (Mrs. Jaramillo); Ruth Anne Jeppson (Mrs. Sedersten); Bella Richardson (Mrs. Kennedy); Seth Sewell (Mrs. Brester); Maggie Zeh (Mrs. Pedrett); Ryan Wight (Mrs. Lang); Lily Hansen (Mrs. Miller); Morgan Wright (Mrs. Coombs). Front Row:…
RHMS teachers who submitted Gold Seal lessons to the SPN (left to right): Laurie Williamson, Colleen Holub, Amy Tempel, Angie Burt, Amy Corr, Sharon Majetich, and Derek DeNileon. Not pictured are Dodi Poulos and Rick Johnson. Article and photo submitted by Amy Shanahan Clark Wilhelm, Amy Tempel, and Kelly Kirkpatrick have been selected to present…
Ridgeline is Buffalo Ridge Elementary’s online newspaper. Each month, a student piece will be printed in The Castle Pines Connection. The Ask Buffy column is an anonymous forum for students to ask questions. View the online newspaper, visit http://schools.dcsdk12.org/bre, click on “Classroom/School Websites” and then on “Ridgeline.” Step aside Dear Abby; BRE’s got Buffy! By…
County to host Economic Development Forum April 5 Commissioners seek public input for Countywide Economic Development Plan. Douglas County, Colo… A collaborative, countywide Economic Development Plan is the ultimate goal of the Douglas County Economic Development Forum, hosted by the Douglas County Commissioners on Tuesday, April 5, from 7:30 – 11:00 a.m., at The Wildlife…
Spring break is right around the corner. Plan ahead and enjoy some memorable family activities right here in Colorado. From state parks to museums, there is much to do and see close to home. Outdoor Recreation Castlewood Canyon State Park 2989 South State Highway 83, Franktown 303-688-5242 This beautiful retreat is located just to the…
Castle Pines Athletics is now offering “soccer tots,” a new program designed for three-year olds. This local program is the perfect place for your little tot to start learning about soccer and meet new friends. Children must be 3 years old by March 1 to participate. The six-week program runs April 4 to May…
by Sally Uhrich Irish Food and Fun Featured in, “Taste of Home Magazine” If you’re wanting to deviate from the usual St. Patrick’s Day fare of Corned Beef and Cabbage, consider this recipe from Rosemary Jarvis, of Sparta, Tennessee. It’s one of many Irish recipes featured in the March, 2008 edition of , “ Taste…
Article by Terri Wiebold with photos by Chuck Lowen For the third year running, Chuck Lowen of Lowen Commercial Real Estate sponsored a blood drive in the commercial district of the City of Castle Pines to benefit The Children’s Hospital. “I’ve been involved in organizing bood donations for about eight years now through other organizations,…
Douglas County Libraries Director James LaRue by Terri Wiebold Douglas County Libraries Director James LaRue recently wrote a column about his personal struggles with Spina bifida, a birth defect which is largely preventable if women take a daily B-vitamin with folic acid during pregnancy. LaRue is encouraging participation in a national study to examine the…
The CSU Men’s Lacrosse Team celebrates after winning the RMLC Tournament last spring. Article by Elean Gersack with photos provided by the Byrne family Oh, where does the time go? A few years back, several neighborhood teens competed against one another in high school lacrosse at Rock Canyon, Mountain Vista and Valor high schools. On…
Information provided by the DCWRA In March, the Douglas County Water Resource Authority (DCWRA) will kick-off a process to look at ways to include rural water users in regional water infrastructure planning, quantify regional economics with and without a sustainable water supply, and identify routes to financing future water supplies. It will begin public outreach…
By Lisa Crockett The Giving Tree: Douglas County United Against Hunger, is gearing up for its third annual food drive on March 12 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. to support the Food Bank at the Douglas/Elbert Task Force. Alumni of Leadership Douglas County in Lone Tree started the organization three years ago in response…
Article and photo by Liane Marette Davis The Old Stone Church, built in 1888, was home for many years to the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church congregation. In 1966, the congregation left for another location and remodeling began in 1975 to convert the church into a restaurant. The Old Stone Church Restaurant has an…
Miers with her current Bengal stud and show cat, Thunder Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Judy Miers Judy Miers, resident of Knight’s Bridge, loves her cats. Her humble home is also currently home to nine Bengal cats and a new litter of Bengal kittens that Miers cares for. Coordinator for Bengal Cat…
Elizabeth Celania-Fagen Superintendent February 18, 2011 Dear Douglas County School District Employees and Families: I hope you had a good week and are looking forward to a relaxing weekend. I would like to take a minute to update you on two current events related to our District. First, Governor Hickenlooper released his budget this week.…
submitted by Amy Shanahan, RHMS Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) continues to receive recognition as an outstanding school. The middle school has been chosen as a State School of Character for the third year in a row, one of only three schools in the state of Colorado. State Schools of Character are schools that are…
Storm boys showing their enthusiasm with a round of “thumbs up” from the heating area before a race. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Melissa Jankowski Storming along towards their third season descends the Castle Pines Storm summer swim team. One hundred twenty-seven swimmers strong last year, the team will be holding their…
Article and photos by Elean Gersack Playkgound equipment is typically meant for young children. Unfortunately, older kids and teens sometimes misuse it or leave unwanted graffiti and trash. Local teen George Byrne has discovered a very positive use for the playground equipment located in the HOA2 neighborhood of Castle Pines. Last summer, Byrne came up…
Build it and they will come …Will the boys of summer be playing in Lone Tree? By Patte Smith The crack of a bat on a beautiful summer night as the runners round the bases and the fans go crazy… could this become a reality right here in our own backyard? Don’t get your hopes…
submitted by Amy Shanahan Generation OC was a pilot cooperative effort between Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) and Opera Colorado (OC). The program combined one passionate teacher, 150 8th graders from RHMS, video cameras, computers with the latest design programs, and OC’s education, development, and marketing staff. The goal of the program was to introduce…
Odelia on her Disney World wish trip, made possible by the Make-A-Wish Foundation and generous taxpayers. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Melissa Morris The Make-A-Wish Foundation was chosen once again as part of the Checkoff Colorado program for 2011. This program enables Colorado taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to their favorite charitable…
Submitted by Fran Santagata Douglas County Emergency Management Director Sgt. Ron HanavanPublic Information OfficerDouglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County Commissioners and Sheriff David Weaver Approve Fire Restrictions On March 29, 2011, The Douglas County Board of Commissioners Reinstated Ordinance No. O-003-001, an ordinance restricting open fires and open burning in the unincorporated areas of Douglas…
By Elizabeth Wood West with photos courtesy of the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District Construction has begun on the InterConnect Pipeline (ICP), a major water transmission cooperative effort between Centennial Water and Sanitation District (CWSD) and Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD). The ICP will connect CPNMD’s water system to a pump station and tank…
By Tracy Dudley DCS Montessori School recently teamed up with TerraCycle to start turning collected waste into new products and materials, ranging from park benches to backpacks. TerraCycle recycles and upcycles used packaging from familiar products like Capri Sun, Lays, and Oreos. Out of this comes more than 1,500 various products available at major retailers.…
Linda Nuzum by Carin R. Kirkegaard with photo by Lane Roberts For the past 13 years, Linda Nuzum has served as community leader, communicator, problem solver, watchdog, and tireless advocate for the Castle Pines community. Her endless volunteerism has always been inspired by her wish to be an informed citizen of the community. This wish,…
Lia Halvas, age 10 (right) attended Timber Trail Elementary’s annual daddy-daughter dance, the Snowball, with her sister Kate, age 5 and her dad, Rich . By Lisa Crockett, courtesy photo The Timber Trail Education Association (TTEA) hosted an evening of dancing and fun for girls who go to Timber Trail Elementary and their dads. The…
OLLI-South classes are located in Douglas County about 22 minutes west of Castle Pines, at the Valley View Christian Church at South Santa Fe and Titan Road. Pictured above are OLLI students on a Geology field trip to Dinosour Ridge. Article and photos submitted by Ellen Sloan It’s probably a good guess that most seniors…
The Town of Castle Rock’s Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course clubhouse at dusk. By Elizabeth Wood West with photos provided by Brigg Jergenson Signs of spring are in the air – robins are singing, the days are longer and warmer, and the Red Hawk Ridge Ladies Golf Club (Ladies Club) is registering new members to…
RHMS sixth graders Michelle Dunker and Brooke Jacobsen got their feathery frills at Salon 188 in Castle Pines. Article and photos by Kathy Dunker In the ‘60s, “bee hives” were all the rage. Now, only a few decades later, the trend has turned fowl with feathers. Yes, actual feathers, as in, coming from birds. This…
Research conducted by, and article prepared by Linda Nuzum Castle Pines taxpayers are footing the bill for attorneys, consultants, and communications efforts related to the City of Castle Pines’ 2010 court filing, which orders the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) to submit a dissolution plan to the judge, and ultimately Castle Pines voters,…
Jamie Larue In college, I got a bean bag chair. I also gave up the daily exercise program I’d followed for years. There was neither privacy nor room in my dorm. By the end of the second semester, suddenly, I had a problem. I was in constant lower back and limb pain. I started to…
Winter Berry resident and artist Nancy Meisner helped contribute to the party’s success. Article by Kathy Dunker Susanne Kabza and Michele Hayden had a successful day on December 14 with their third annual “Party with a Purpose” at Kabza’s home in Amber Ridge. More than $1,100 was raised to benefit The Women’s Crisis and Family…
Castle Pines Athletics soccer players take a break to hang out after a game last fall. Playing with friends, neighbors and classmates is partof what makes Castle Pines Athletics so special. Submitted by Lane Roberts, Castle Pines Athletics Beginning in March, Castle Pines Athletics will kick off its third consecutive year of bringing sports to…
Article by Patte Smith photo by Carla Kenny Government day, held in January for the members of Leadership Douglas County (LDC), was a refresher course in what many of us learned in middle and high school. “We revisited a lot of useful information about our government and the difference in governing at the state and…
Article by Kathy Dunker with photos by Kristi Doke Kindergartners at American Academy (AA) got put on their engineering hats last month with their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) week for mechanical engineering. The Kindies got to think like mechanical engineers as they used the force of wind to power their mechanical creations. With…
By Pacey, Ridgeline Staff Reporter Did you know that Cripple Creek had one of the biggest gold strikes in history? $500,000,000 worth of gold was found at Cripple Creek in 1890. The population of the town went from 500 people to 10,000 people in just 3 years. After the Gold Rush, many people left the…
While many across the country find themselves indoors with a cup of hot chocolate near a fireplace when the snow hits big, we here in Colorado head to the hills. Whether it is skiing, tubing, snow boarding, sledding or just playing in the snow, the Castle Pines community makes the most of the winter fun.…
Information submitted by DC Libraries In addition to The Wildlife Experience and Dinosaur Ridge, Douglas County Libraries now offers library card holders Adventure Passes to the Denver Art Museum. The partnership is the first of its kind among Colorado libraries. Denver Art Museum passes are available starting January 11. The Denver Art Museum seeks to…
Back Row: Nicole (Mrs. Kennedy); Lexi Wirkus (Ms. Carter); Elizabeth Curtright (Mrs Phelan); Chelsea Gause (Mr. Jenson); Lawrence Shook (Mrs. Sedersten). Middle Row: Jameson Shanahan (Mrs. Shepherd); Jessica Bentley (Mrs. Brester); Rachel Ansay (Mrs. Pedrett); Ashley Zbylski (Mrs. Pinke); Madison Pickett (Mrs. Jaramillo); Megan Golba (Mrs. Herzog). Front Row: Zachary Ruggee (Mrs. G.); Caden Brester…
Candidate Forum – Castle Pines – July 22, 2008 by Joe Gschwendtner Arnold Schwarzenegger recently proved a good “terminator” does not necessarily make a good “governator.” Much admired by many Americans, polls indicate he is seen as having failed California. I’ve been involved in governance for 30 years. To be fairly governed requires electing good,…
Chris Bonham Column by Chris Bonham, intern writer I recently attended a Civil War Ball, a rather large event held for homeschoolers at the DC Fairgrounds every year. It’s a time when teens get dressed up in period-type clothing and dance the night away. Unfortunately, my dancing skills are somewhat lacking. My night was spent…
Articles and photos by The Castle Pines Connection staff, courtesy photos The Douglas County Educational Foundation will present its Apple Awards on March 5 at an event designed to honor the finest educators in the county, while also raising money to support school programs. After the Foundation reviewed 5,300 nominations submitted by students, staff and…
Property owners in Douglas County now have a new tool on the county’s website that will calculate the cost of an individual property’s proportionate share of 28 different service categories provided by Douglas County, including road construction, law enforcement, parks and trails, public health, elections, snow removal, and traffic management. For access to the county’s…
Submitted by Bob Wilson CDOT Public Relations Work is underway to reconstruct a large portion of State Highway 86 (Founders Parkway) between Interstate 25 and the Founders Parkway/ Ridge Road/ 5thStreet intersection. The Colorado Department of Department (CDOT) project includes reconstructing 2 1/2 miles of highway with concrete pavement, a new storm drain system, retention…
Last month, City of Lone Tree officials, project associates and project contractor G.E. Johnson celebrated Topping Out of the Lone Tree Arts Center by signing their John Hancock and then placing a structural beam at the site of the future lobby area. Guests received an inspirational speech from Lone Tree Arts Center Executive Director Lisa…
The Castle Pines Connection is looking to add a listing of services and home-based businesses that might be of interest to our readers. We want this to be more than just a static listing of businesses, but rather a useful resource for services you frequently need. Please send suggestions regarding the types of services you…
The Castle Pines Library will host a Mother-Daughter book club in 2011. Bimonthly meetings are planned for the following Mondays at 6:30 p.m.: Monday, March 1 – Black Beauty Monday, May 9 – Each Little Bird that Sings Monday, July 11 – The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters Monday, September 12 – When…
Now in its fourth year, the much celebrated Douglas County Art Encounters™ public art program invites sculpture artists to submit applications for participation in the June 2011 to June 2012, outdoor sculpture exhibit. Deadline for artist entries is Feb. 28. Please visit www.douglas.co.us/artencounters to access the CAFE (Call for Entries) online application and for comprehensive…
In a recent Castle Pines Connection letter to the editor, Brambleridge resident Donald Reese made the observation that, “We [residents in the city] are suing ourselves with our own tax dollars…Why?” He went on to write, “I would encourage your paper to publish a future article reporting the total amount of taxpayer money, in dollars,…
The staff at Las Fajitas is eager to serve up some traditional-style Mexican favorites. Owner Alberto Granados is pictured in the center. Las Fajitas is a family-owned and operated restaurant. By Lisa Crockett with photos by Tim Gamble Aurora restaurant owner Alberto Granados was looking to expand his popular “Las Fajitas” restaurant. He says his…
Information provided bythe CPN Master Association New management company The Master Association has changed management companies and is now managed by Premier Property Management. Please contact Kim Maguire by e-mail with questions. Decrease in dues Effective January 1, the Master Association annual dues were reduced to $85. Due to the recent change in management company,…
Team members at a recent tournament (left to right:) Ben Bush, Jonah Flores, and Emily Ball. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of JoAnn Moran Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) new head coach, JoAnn Moran, puts in a lot of hours for her Speech and Debate Team. While the team was formed four years…
by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of Marc Feldman Professional photographer Marc Feldman is a resident of Esperanza and a new addition to the Castle Pines business community. Feldman, who lives wit h his girlfriend, son, and sheep dog, has been a professional photographer for 36 years and is now heading up a new digital…
Article by Kathy Dunker with photos by Tim Gamble The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce wrapped up another successful year at its annual banquet at the Inverness Hotel in January. Business owners and community leaders joined together to celebrate the chamber’s many accomplishments in 2010 and to recognize some outstanding business owners who give a…
Submitted by Lacee Tasker The stone Spinel Spinel occurs in all colors, the favorite being a ruby-like red. The pigments, which give it its color, are chrome and iron. Large stones are rare and star spinel are very rare. Spinel was recognized as an individual mineral only 180 years ago. Before then it was classed…
Be the MVP of the Super Bowl Party; Be a Designated Driver Increased DUI Enforcement this Super Bowl Weekend The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado State Patrol (CSP), Denver Broncos and members of the Colorado Licensed Beverage Association are reminding football fans that if your Super Bowl celebration includes alcohol, make sure you have…