Read the stories from the latest issue:
Councilmember Tera Radloff (second from left) casts the final vote for the unanimous withdrawl of the city’s dissolution By Elizabeth Wood West with photo by Tim Gamble Two years ago this February, the City of Castle Pines filed a petition with Douglas County District Court asking that the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) be…
The snow, cold, and lack of parking did not keep people away from BRE. CNN reporter Jim Spellman was on site throughout the evening with venue manager Keri Brehm. By Amy Shanahan Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) was host to the recent Republican caucus, which set new attendance records for local precincts, as well as attracted…
Article and photos by Kathy Dunker What are teens doing these days to add a bright strip of color to their hair in just 15 minutes that costs under a dollar to do and lasts for several weeks? We’re not talking about salon work here, but rather the latest teen craze of Kool-Aid hair dying.…
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…
Steak ‘n Shake is shakin’ up the neighborhood! Long wait times haven’t detered customers from enjoying the delicious food and friendly service at Steak ‘n Shake. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan If a perfectly cooked burger, shoestring fries and hand-dipped milk shake are what you’re craving, make the short drive to the new Steak…
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…
Information provided by Mayor Jeff Huff The City of Castle Pines and the Castle Pines North Metro District have entered into a resource sharing agreement whereby the district will share vehicles and personnel with the city for snow removal services. According to Mayor Jeff Huff, this will in no way change the snow removal contract,…
Ryan Nickell has discovered a way to make money by doing what he loves. “When I ride and have a fun time, there’s nothing that beats it for me. I can lose myself!” By Amy Shanahan, photo courtesy of Renee Nickell Ryan Nickell, an eighth grade student at Rocky Heights Middle School, loves to spend…
Submitted by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with Safeway and several other local businesses in Castle Pines to conduct a mock child abduction field exercise in the City of Castle Pines on February 1 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The exercise will be used to test the…
By Patte Smith The Castle Pines Connection wants to hear from local entrepreneurs, retailers, and residents in the community who make or market products or goods made in the good ol’ USA. It is a well-known fact that many products that were previously manufactured in the United States are now made in other countries. So,…
By Patte Smith In December of 2011, construction began on a three-mile section of trail that will connect Bluffs Regional Park to the Ridgegate Parkway interchange. The trail is set to open in May, but with weather permitting, it may open sooner. The eight-foot wide trail will run east from the top of Bluffs Regional…
Castle Pines kids were stars in a recent production of “Annie.” From left to right: Kara Lencke, Taylor Muckel, Abby Fletcher, Keely Jester, Adison Hirsch. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Ten-year-old Taylor Muckel has a big personality and a voice to match. In January, she played the lead role in a community theater production…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Seven-year-old Nikki F. (pictured above) eats pancakes and sausage at the January breakfast to benefit the Castle Pines Library. “I really love the library,” said Nikki. “Clementine books are my favorite.” The breakfast, which was held at Applebee’s in Castle Rock, raised a little more than $4,000. Students at…
Photo and cutline by Amy Shanahan Known as the “SuperBowl of livestock shows”, the National Western Stock Show drew thousands of local residents who participated in the many rodeos, horse shows, livestock shows and other special events. Castle Pines Village residents Ciara J. (left), Lily T. (center), and Katie S. (right) attended the Super Dogs…
Submitted by Lane Roberts, Castle Pines Athletics Each year, more than 20 million children register to play youth sports in this country. According to the National Alliance of Sports, 70 percent of these children quit playing league sports by age 13. They never play again. With figures like these, it is time to look at…
Scot Woolley, CEO and Founder of CarePilot By Amy Shanahan, photo courtesy of Scot Woolley Castle Pines resident Scot Woolley recognized a problem in the healthcare system and decided to fix it himself. CarePilot, based in the Denver Tech Center, is an internet-based company which provides an online marketplace for healthcare services, and allows…
Danielle von Lembke with her father, Marine Colonel (R), Ron von Lembke near the “Candy Castle,” one of the many Candy Land themed areas of Timber Trail Elementary’s annual father-daughter dance. By Lisa Crockett This year’s annual winter father-daughter dance at Timber Trail Elementary was, in a word, sweet. More than 400 people attended the…
Top left section RCHS honorees – Top Row, left to right: Allie Johnston, Meredith Micho, Taylor Phelps. Bottom Row: Taylor (left)Staab and Chloe Thorderson (right). These athletes represent the best of the best from their respective schools Top right section RHMS honorees – Back row: Rachel Powner, Sarah Burke, Avery Lemler, and Ellie…
By Amy Shanahan As evidenced by the Republican debates and the campaigning by both political parties, the national elections are quickly approaching. At a local level, both the Republican and Democratic caucuses will take place during the next few weeks. It is important to note that due to census information, redistricting, and reapportionment, the Douglas…
TTE Spelling Bee winner, Max Graef (right) and first runner-up Grace Regnier (left). Article and photo by Lisa Crockett “Wasabi” isn’t the only thing that’s hot at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE). After hours of practice and preparation, fifth grader Max Graef spelled the word (a spicy-hot root used as a condiment with Japanese food), blazing…
Host, Sam Adams and Lorrie Jingle Bell have some fun with the kids as they get up on stage for the Who’s Got Talent portion of the show on December 23. Article and photos by Kathy Dunker Looking for a reason to get off the couch and have some good old fashioned family fun? Comedy…
Cameron McCrillis, pictured with ‘Head Bee’, Felicia Phelan, won the BRE Spelling Bee on Thursday, January 19, by spelling the word “fluoride” correctly in the championship round. By. Lily T., BRE Ridgeline Staff Reporter Over the last few weeks there was a buzz in the air around Buffalo Ridge Elementary School. Everyone was wondering who…
The LiveStrong cycling studio is just one of the new exercise studios at Village Fitness. Spin classes are one of the most popular classes offered. Article and photos by Amy Shanahan It’s time to take a new look at Village Fitness. Whether you are new to the area, thinking about starting an exercise program, or…
By Chris Bonham Perhaps William Shakespeare said it best when he wrote, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts …” This is just one of the many truths that Colorado non-profit organization, Inspire…
Knuckles and Bones was a gambling game the fourth grade students learned to play at AA as they completed their unit on the Middle Ages. Article submitted by Tami Bostick with photos courtesy of American Academy American Academy (AA) fourth grade students and their teachers, Tami Bostick, Mandy Smith, Katie Bland, and Angela Martinez, celebrated…
Information provided by Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Xcel Energy wishes to alert its customers to an illegal customer contact effort that may target senior citizens in Colorado, particularly in the Denver metro area. As part of the scam, a phony customer service agent may contact an Xcel Energy customer to explain that his or…
By Elean Gersack On Friday, March 16, Buffalo Ridge Elementary will host an anniversary gala to commemorate fifteen years. The adult-only celebration and silent auction will take place at Sanctuary Golf Club. “The 15th Anniversary is a true milestone for our community. The first kindergarten students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary are now in their 20’s…
Brown gets down to business as Editor-in-Chief from her home office in Castle Pines (photo by Trish Eberlein) By Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Chris Brown Chris Brown, resident of Esperanza, loves to quilt. Depending on the intricacy, completing a quilt can take her anywhere from two months to a year. Brown has made…
By Lisa Crockett The Douglas County Educational Foundation (DCEF) is hosting the Seventh Annual Apple Awards in March. The pool of teacher representatives who are eligible for the awards – which honor excellence in teaching – comes from nominations by parents, students, school faculty and staff. This year, DCEF received roughly 5,300 nominations. Each school…
By Patte Smith On January 11, Regional Transportation District (RTD) representatives met with the public to present the alternative assessment (AA) findings, which is the second phase of its Southeast Light Rail study. The meeting was held at the Lone Tree Recreation Center. The AA outlined RTD’s locally preferred alternative, which includes a light-rail line…
Shuler explains a software program to Bayleigh Arey, a graphic design student at Rock Canyon. By Patte Smith, photo contributed by Dr. Jackie Shuler Dr. Jacqueline Shuler is a shining example of a knowledgeable and enthusiastic teacher, and art students at Rock Canyon High School know this to be a fact. “This is my favorite…
By Elean Gersack Kids in Castle Pines have a new and fun way to get active this winter. Evolve Lifestyle Fitness (Evolve) has teamed up with the Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) before and afterschool program (BASE) to offer weekly kids fitness classes to the entire community. The classes are open to all kids in…
By Lisa Crockett This year, Valentine’s Day is on a Tuesday. Tuesday is a perfectly good day – just as good as any other day, really. But somehow, Tuesday lacks the romance of a Friday or Saturday night. Work, school, homework, carpools . . . all these things conspire to make Tuesday a mad rush,…
By Elizabeth Wood West According to Douglas County Senior Planner Matthew Jakubowski, Northstar Land LLC’s proposal for a new 31-acre residential development is expected to be presented at a public hearing before the Douglas County Planning Commission on Monday, February 27 at 7 p.m. If approved, the proposal will be presented at another public hearing…
HighPointe was the recipient of the Frances Owens Family Involvement Award in 2010 by Developmental Pathways. Pictured above are Kim Ziel (left), Ken Ziel (center back), Frances Owens (right), and Austin Ziel (center front). By Elean Gersack with photo courtesy of Ken Ziel Ken Ziel’s life-course changed directions when his son, Austin, was born in…
City of Castle Pines, Town of Parker, Douglas County, and CDOT officials weathered the cold temperatures on January 24 to take place in the ribbon cutting ceremony to open the Hess Road Extension. By Lisa Crockett, graphic provided by Douglas County After a lengthy construction period and a few delays, the long-anticipated opening of a…
Schaefer works out with Mayerle Neher at Village Fitness. Neher, a 10-year resident of Castle Pines, is working to make physical changes in her life. Submitted by Stuart Schaefer – Personal Trainer New Year’s has come and gone, and so have many of the resolutions that we made. Whether it’s losing weight, improving finances, or…
Pictured above is Jake Garrett’s debut album, “The Hometown Remedy,” which features his vocals, guitar playing and song writing talents. By Chris Bonham with photos provided by the Garrett family Musically, Colorado is home to plenty of folks who’ve hit it big. The Fray, OneRepublic, and 3Oh!3 are just a few artists on the contemporary…
This red sea of students and staff attended the Jump Rope for Heart assembly at DCS Montessori on January 13 to celebrate heart health. Article submitted by Jodi Anderson with photo courtesy of DCSM What do rappers, dancers, and jive queens have in common with DCS Montessori Charter School (DCSM)? On Friday, January 13, students,…
RHMS and RCHS student mentors look forward to their weekly meetings with sixth grade students. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Students mentoring younger students has proven beneficial to all those involved, and this is particularly evident with a new joint program at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) and Rock Canyon High School (RCHS). National…
Information provided by Douglas County Beginning the week of January 16, residential property owners in Douglas County began receiving one of two property tax information-types by U.S. mail – either a full property tax statement including all tax detail, or a postcard that invites the recipient to visit the County’s website for tax details. New…
Submitted by Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce is forming a new committee to share ideas on the creation of a new event to increase sales opportunities for Chamber Members’ products and services, specifically to retail markets in Castle Pines and surrounding areas. This is a chance for the community…
Camp CALF campers took Cowboy the pony for a walk after they fed and groomed him. By Elizabeth Wood West with photos by Brooke Fox If your kids are interested in raising their own chickens, goats, sheep or other livestock, but don’t have the space or facilities, consider contacting the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF).…
left: Josh Dwyre, who has taken lessons since the age of eight, leaps with ease and grace as he executes his ballet moves. right: A senior at Regis, Dwyre creates fluid lines with his body for his performances. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of the Dwyre family So you think you can dance?…
Submitted by the City of Castle Pines Please join the City of Castle Pines and Downtown Colorado Inc. (DCI) to participate in the Castle Pines Community Assessment. The community assessment is intended to analyze community preferences for commercial district revitalization, to provide recommendations for enhancing the town center while maintaining community character, and to provide…
Douglas County Libraries welcomes master magician Bruce Black and his kid-friendly program “The Magic of Reading.” Black will appear at the Castle Pines Library on Wednesday, March 14 at 6 p.m. For additional information, go to www. DouglasCountyLibraries.org
Information provided by the DCSO The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is excited to announce its commitment to the education of the youth of Douglas County. Sheriff David A. Weaver has established a scholarship fund and will award ten scholarships in 2012, each valued at $750. The DCSO considers this an investment in the future…
Jimmy Dozer found his niche photographing people. His passion shows in the personalities he captures. By Amy Shanahan, photos courtesy of Jimmy Dozer If you have attended an event in the Village shops at Castle Pines, or just taken time to browse the shops and restaurants, chances are you have come into contact with Jimmy…
David John Reed “Mr. O” By Chris Bonham with photo provided by the Reed family Legacy. It is a word that invokes the images of gods and kings; great men throughout history who have shaped the world to be what it is today. But legacy is not just a word reserved for men and women…
The $50 budget for this little girl was too small, so these shoppers financed the shopping list with their own money. They were able to provide everything including a brand new bike, helmet, and bike pump. “I am so impressed by the generosity of our students and this community!” said Explorer teacher Holly Spurlin. (left…
Article by Joe Gschwendtner with photos provided by the Castle Pines Motorcycle Club Little captures the American spirit better than a Harley Davidson on the open road. To this image, add a heavy-leathered male specimen with a sculpted female wrapped tightly into bike and body contours. Now that’s a serious formula for adventure. If you…
By Lisa Crockett After six weeks of Holiday feasting and celebrating (more if you include Halloween) most of us make resolutions that include dropping a few pounds and moving a little more. Gym parking lots overflow and low-fat and low-cal snacks dominate grocery store displays. And while it’s a great idea to make a fresh…
By Elean Gersack Planning a team practice, family gathering or party during the next few months? There are many great parks in Castle Pines available by reservation. The Castle Pines North Metro District manages Coyote Ridge, Daniel’s Gate, and The Retreat parks, while the City of Castle Pines manages the newest park, Elk Ridge. Coyote…
By Lisa Crockett Open Enrollment – Parents wishing to enroll children in a Douglas County School District school other than a designated neighborhood school, must complete an open enrollment form. Open enrollment forms can be completed the district website at www.dcsdk12.org (click on “o” and then select “Open Enrollment” to access the form; paper forms…
The Flower Shop at Castle Pines owners Sherry Lea and Tim Hannon show their love and passion for floral design. By Lisa Crockett with photo by Tim Gamble The Flower Shop at Castle Pines will no longer have a store front on Village Square Lane, but most all the services customers have come to enjoy…
The kids loved getting copies of the photos Butorac took of them; smiles, laughter and excitement abound! Father Ulrick, the priest in the village of Anse Au Veau and a teachers tries out the new keyboard. By Patte Smith with photos provided by Kim Butorac Surrey Ridge resident Kim Butorac (pictured above left) returned from…
By Elean Gersack Now is the time to get registered for spring sports and activities. Below is a quick reference guide to some of the most popular leagues and recreational activities around. Castle Pines Athletics Spring soccer begins in late March and runs through May 19. The co-ed recreational program is available for children ages…