Read the stories from the latest issue:
Chad and Valerie Fincher are deeply committed to their family, faith, and serving their community. The couple first met at Cal State Fullerton’s campus ministry in Southern California. “It was love at first sight for me. She’s still trying to figure it out 30 years later,” Chad said playfully. Valerie responded, “I don’t know what…
Several months ago, RE/MAX Holdings promoted attorney Susie Winders to be its general counsel. Her eventual success was never doubted by any who knew her. What could not have been anticipated was the height of the pinnacle attained, so quickly and so young. Born to Bob and Sharon Winders in Springfield, Illinois, she had remarkable…
The Madison Apartments on the east side of I-25 was host to the New Resident Welcome Reception sponsored by the City of Castle Pines, the Castle Pine Chamber of Commerce and The Castle Pines Connection. Nearly 40 residents took time getting to know each other, and many walked away with great prizes. Thank you to…
Chispita is eight pounds of pure sass, and to Karen and Mark Ruzycki, she is “just one lucky cat.” Chispita, whose name means “little spark,” is a 13-year-old ball of fur who found her way into the Ruzyckis’ home at just 4 weeks old. Chispita, along with another kitten, was found in a box in…
Mother’s Day is May 14th. Book recommendations this month feature the complexities of being a woman and mothers in all their fierce imperfections; in short, the women who are role models for us all. Know the Mother by Desiree Cooper is a collection of fictional vignettes that “explore the complex archetype of the mother in…
The use of deepfake technology is on the rise throughout the internet. With the click of a button, just about anyone can put your face on an Olympic runner in action or make it appear as if an alligator is sitting in first class on an airliner. Deepfake is used to describe computer-generated images, video…
Harry Pearson grew up in the Hidden Pointe neighborhood with his mom, dad, two brothers and one sister. His family has always been full of independence, starting with his dad who left Australia at age 23 to follow his dreams and find his way. His mom has a similar story, and now each of the…
Located in Denver near I-25 and Alameda sits a very special place, called Women’s Bean Project (WBP). For 34 years, this nonprofit organization has been helping women create a fresh start with self-sufficiency through social enterprise. The founder of WBP, Jossy Eyre, was volunteering at a daytime women’s shelter in the late 1980s as part…
Dear Readers, Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so let’s plan. Modern Manners will guide us to be thoughtful of our moms and everyone. Mother’s Day can bring up different emotions depending on where we are in our lives, and we want to be sensitive to the stages of others. If you know this…
For years, many have lionized larger than life men and women who made our Douglas County great. As it should be. But the reality of pioneering outcomes in these parts is that most failed; their adventures were nasty, brutish and short. Local prosperity required many things: grit; water, agricultural, and animal husbandry savvy; and, above…
Celery has had sort of a renaissance in the last few years. Prior to 2019, I mostly thought of celery as a delivery mechanism for peanut butter or as the last thing on any vegetable tray—unwanted and uneaten. Sure, I enjoyed it in the background of soup or stew, cooked to near-mushiness along with an…
Colorado farmers markets are an outdoor celebration of summer. Families and friends get together, chatting with vendors and meandering through the market enjoying the fresh smell of recently harvested produce. Many markets offer fresh flowers, honey, jams, fresh bread, coffee, live music and more – with Colorado’s blue-sky days, what can be better? Traveling this…
Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) was one of several participating schools that joined in a cereal box drive to help feed fellow Douglas County School District students in need. More than 300 boxes of cereal were collected from TTE families and students – totaling 391 pounds of cereal. TTE worked in conjunction with the Backpack Society…
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) recently named several Douglas County School District (DCSD) schools on its annual list for showing excellence in academic achievement and student growth. Many of our local schools were included. Timber Trail Elementary School (TTE) received the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award, which shows exceptional student growth schoolwide. “On the school…
“A Night at the Museum” was this year’s theme for the American Academy – Castle Pines (AA) campus student art show. Student artists from kindergarten to fifth grade showcased their projects made of watercolor, 3D printed technology and paper mâché. All student art projects were on display for guests to enjoy at their leisure. Each…
Castle View High School Tyler Adair Arlette Arellano Hernandez Landon Baylor Mikayla Belanger McKenna Brown Addison Cage Bronwyn Cage Nolan Casey Caden Cavey Charles Colombi Kairi Crowell Hailey Franco Logan Friedman James Gerlach Alexandra Guarda Mercado Jenae Guillory Madison Hancock Kara Hastings Elena Hunsinger Alexis Keskitalo Tristan MacHendrie Isaiah Marta Allen Issac Martinez Siena Mendoza…
Students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) witnessed a “90s Rewind” featuring top musical hits from the 1990s, when the entire fifth grade class performed its yearly show. The fifth grade show is three-fold, with aspects featuring music, physical movement and art. Preparations began at the beginning of the school year when music teacher Cathy Deneault…
In an effort to build further partnerships, the Douglas County School District Board of Directors met with business leaders in the community and discussed ways in which the business community can collaborate with the district for the betterment of its students. Caption and photo by Terri Wiebold
Each year, the Douglas County Special Education Advisory Committee (DCSEAC) acknowledges district shining stars who support a student receiving special education services. These individuals were nominated by parents and caregivers for making a difference in the lives of their students. This year the DCSEAC received 374 individual Shining Star nominations that represented 72 schools. All…
The World Trade Center, Ellis Island and a stroll through Central Park are all must-dos when visiting New York City (NYC). American Academy fifth to eighth students spent four days seeing the sights of New York. When they were not sightseeing, they were busy working with Alison Jantzie, the Wicked understudy for the witch’s mother…
Three Rock Canyon High School varsity basketball players were selected as the best of the best in the state of Colorado according to Biokats Sports Network. Aidan Peck and Gavin Hershberger, seniors, were selected in the top 20 elite category which means overall, regardless of grade or classification.…
Congratulations to the 80108 student-athletes who have signed letters of intent to play their sport at the next level! Douglas County High School Finley Bates Baseball San Diego State University Coach Craig Gienger stated, “Finley has some of the best instincts of any player I’ve ever coached. As a four-year varsity starter, Finley quickly became…
Eating certain foods based on an individual’s blood type – O, A, B or AB – is the basis behind the Blood Type Diet (BTD), created by naturopathic physician Peter J. D’Adamo. Since blood carries nutrients through the body, the claim is that people with different blood types have different nutritional needs. In addition to…
NFL Hall-of-Famer Deion Sanders, known as Coach Prime, has landed in Colorado with great fanfare and the CU – Boulder faithful are energized for a new era and what could be a promising football program. On April 22, despite a cold and snowy day, a sold-out Folsom Field gathered to watch the black and gold…
Transforming Meals into Memories There are few restaurants that are known as much for their immersive cultural dining experience as they are for their rich and flavorful food. Rodizio Grill manages to be among the rare mainstays in that category, with top-to-bottom Brazilian flair and delicacies that simply can’t be found elsewhere. Colorful artwork made…
Catherine Ojala’s story began years ago in Liberia, in western Africa. At age 3, as she and her family faced civil war, they escaped north to the country of Sierra Leone, where they thrived for about five years until the rise of a second civil war. The journey that ensued for Ojala, her older sister…
A world-class ice arena in Castle Pines will not be built after all. The City of Castle Pines and DAWG National Hockey Foundation (DAWG Nation) have mutually agreed to terminate a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered into nearly two years ago because DAWG Nation fell short of its January 1 fundraising goals. The City formalized…
The Rock of Hope Campaign to bring cancer care to Castle Rock Adventist Hospital surpassed the $1 million fundraising mark this winter, a first milestone toward its $14 million capital fundraising goal. “I am so grateful for the support that has made these fundraising strides possible and look forward to sharing more progress in the…
Academy participant Donna “DJ” McCloskey takes the driver’s seat as leading officer for a traffic stop simulation. Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) pledges that the men and women of the DCSO will continually strive to ensure the safety of schools, neighborhoods and businesses through the core values of J.U.S.T.I.C.E.– Judgment, Unity, Skill, Trust, Ingenuity, Courage…
At its March 14 regular meeting following a presentation by City staff and the applicant, City Council approved Resolution 23-14, a preliminary plan application for the property located at the northeast corner of Castle Pines Parkway and S. Havana Street within The Canyons Planning Area 1 (PA1). Lots and lots of dirt will be moved…
If you moved to Colorado and haven’t properly registered your vehicle within the required time frames or let your temporary tag expire after the new year, expect to pay more when you finally do. Last year, the Colorado legislature passed the Colorado Registration Fairness Act (HB22-1254). The new law adds teeth to existing laws by…
The construction of the pickleball courts at Coyote Ridge Park is underway and set to be completed at the end of April or early May, weather dependent, according to the Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD). “Temperatures have to stay above 50 degrees for seven days for the playing surface to be poured and to…
The City of Castle Pines is launching a free concert series this summer at Coyote Ridge Park. One Sunday each month from June to August, a free outdoor concert will be available for residents to enjoy with their friends and neighbors. The bands will cover a variety of music tastes, including rock, country, pop and…
The Castle Pines City Council approved the creation of a stormwater utility fee at their regular meeting on March 14. Responsibility for stormwater management will be transferred effective March 31 from the Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD) to the City of Castle Pines. The transfer of stormwater responsibilities from CPNMD to the City of…
The City of Castle Pines is continuing discussions with the Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD) to transfer parks and recreation duties from CPNMD to the City of Castle Pines. CPNMD currently manages Daniels Gate, Coyote Ridge and The Retreat parks throughout Castle Pines, along with more than 350 acres of open space and 14…
Douglas County is hoping for two days of your time. The Adopt-a-Road program is available for anyone to join and it’s an easy process: online registration, a search for available roads to adopt and ultimately, a place to log progress. Each roadway section ranges from one to three miles. When you commit, you agree to…
Chris Nielsen’s basement is full of flies. The fly fishing type. A husband, father and business owner of Discount Flies, Nielsen is passionate about his family and his products – fishing flies that are hand tied, boxed and shipped from his home on Esperanza Place in the City of Castle Pines. “I’ve tied flies and…
On a snowy March 16, Douglas County Libraries (DCL) held a “Topping Out” event at the newly constructed building to reveal the progress of what will be a much larger library in Castle Rock. The new facility, set to officially open in August, is being built in front of the current library located at 100…
In 1988 New Jersey, two hearts had a youthful attraction, meeting at a movie theater to see Coming to America, and becoming high school sweethearts. But after going together to prom, Victor Bonney and Jackie McCormick went their separate ways. Striding brusquely into life, Bonney was a driven young man. Not without a few ups…
At the young age of 6, Timber Trail Elementary first grader Chase Weaver was introduced to city government. He spoke during public comment at a recent City of Castle Pines council meeting asking council members to revisit the City’s backyard chicken policy. Chase had to stand on a chair to see over the podium to…
Carla Sharrar, a cashier at King Soopers in Castle Pines, said, “Miracles keep happening.” Carla and her husband, Shayne, came through a very difficult experience that started with a terrifying accident leading to the discovery that Shayne needed a liver transplant. After nearly five months in the hospital and four attempts at surgery, Shayne made…
Fire Chief Bob Baker grew up watching his father serve as a firefighter in Flint, Michigan, and the example never left him. He has devoted his life to public service – in fire rescue – just like his dad. Baker began his career in 1984, moving through the ranks and working in many capacities with…
Thank you to all our readers who sent in photos of your memories at Casa Bonita over the years. These three lucky families each received a $50 gift certificate for their entries. “We spent our daughter Leyna’s 4th birthday at Casa Bonita in 2014. She was terrified of the gorilla!” – Photo courtesy of Paige…
For 19 years, Womenade of Castle Rock has been organizing gatherings where neighbors bring a potluck dish and $25 to help out individuals or families with needs the group becomes aware of through friends. The giving circle gives a hand-up or a gift for a need that may otherwise not be met. Their name is…
From newborn to high school graduate, Kate Phillips grew up in the Briar Ridge subdivision of Castle Pines. She attended Timber Trail Elementary School, Rocky Heights Middle School and graduated from Regis Jesuit High School. As a child, Phillips danced, played soccer, and shared in plenty of laughter with her neighborhood friends while building forts,…
On April 4, Lindsey Simbeye of the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse, will be speaking and taking questions on fentanyl at a lunch-n-learn provided by the Douglas County Youth Initiative. The event is from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Miller Building Hearing Room, 100 Third Street, in Castle Rock. Fentanyl is a synthetic…
A vibrant sense of community is one characteristic that sets Castle Pines – the 80108 ZIP code more specifically – apart from other Colorado communities. Neighbors know each other, they spend time together and they support each other. If you are a new resident, you have likely already experienced this firsthand. The same holds true…
One of the more vibrant Wildcat histories is that of the Blunt family. It began 60 years after we became a nation in Franklin, Missouri. After son John Elmer, “John E.,” was born to John and Elmira Blunt in 1836, the family migrated to Kansas. In the Civil War, both father and son were distinguished…
The Douglas County Youth Initiative (DCYI) is a collaboration between two representatives of the younger generation and government leadership in Douglas County. Its purpose is to involve youth so that officials can assess and understand the needs of younger residents when making policy decisions. Established in 2022, DCYI consists of a representative from the Douglas…
The first Earth Day was observed in 1970. This year, Earth Day falls on Saturday, April 22. In honor of the global celebration, this month’s book recommendations are focused on the blue globe we all call home. You can begin by delving into one or more of the following reads: The Planet in a Pebble:…
Every year, American Legions (sometimes called posts) around the country seek to identify and nominate stellar first responders as part of the association’s pillars: national security and a strong national defense. Posts work with local police and fire departments to designate candidates for recognition, and there is a competition of sorts to see whose…
Dear Readers, There’s so much to talk about here, but I am going to dive into Facebook specifically with this column. Given the popularity and the longevity of Facebook, you’d think we would know how to use it properly by now. That is not the case. And while there are many rules of engagement according…
Eight-year-old Peter Howell-Bailey is a reptile enthusiast and proud owner of seven reptiles. His zoo includes Pickle the leopard gecko, Scarlett Spacecat the corn snake, Star the box turtle, Shield the red-eared slider aquatic turtle, Stripe Tail the bearded dragon, and two red-footed tortoises, The Little One and The Big One. “I like having them…
Canyons Community Church 4825 N. Crowfoot Valley Road, Castle Rock Easter Sunday, April 9, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. www.canyonscc.org Castle Oaks Covenant Church 826 Park Street, Castle Rock Palm Sunday, Children’s Palm Parade April 2, 10 a.m. Maundy Thursday, April 6, 7 p.m. Easter Sunday, April 9, 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. www.castleoaks.org Chabad…
This is the time of year when I usually find myself with a fridge full of hard-boiled eggs. Even though my kids are all adults now, it is not at all unusual for them to nostalgically head to the store for a decorating kit and then draft me into helping them boil and dip dye…
Much has changed in the 10 years since Donna and Gary Stern purchased MiYO (Make it Your Own) breakfast and lunch eatery in The Village at Castle Pines. MiYO recently completed a major kitchen renovation to accommodate the additional demand from their 2020 dining room expansion. Interior seating capacity grew from 25 to 70 (with…
According to the World Sport Stacking Association, sport stacking is now part of more than 47,000 school and club programs in 54 countries worldwide. The Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) Howling Stacker club team participated in the March Colorado Open Championship held at Douglas County High School, a qualifying event for the 2023 Junior Olympics that…
Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) recently pledged to spread inclusion within the school as part of the Spread the Word inclusion campaign and in conjunction with Special Olympics Colorado. Principal Chris Cooke said, “The Special Olympics Spread the Word campaign to support inclusion is near and dear to the heart of what we believe in…
Lower elementary students at DCS Montessori participated in World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) by sharing and reading their favorite picture books to their classmates. WRAD, created in 2010 by the nonprofit LitWorld, is a global effort that calls attention to the importance of reading every year on the first Wednesday in February. Sponsored by Scholastic,…
Earlier this year, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) once again welcomed several foreign exchange students to the jungle. Ten students from France came to Colorado (with others going to Montana, Kansas and Washington) and eight of the 10 were hosted by RCHS families. This was the first year, post pandemic, to welcome foreign students into…
“Triglycerides,” “candelabra,” and “scruple” are all hard words to spell, but “Ayurvedic” is even harder. For Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) fifth grader, Charlotte Harris, the word “Ayurvedic” was not only hard to spell, it was the winning word that advanced her to the district’s top 25 to go to the state spelling bee. The Scripps…
Since 1988, CORE account holders have awarded grants to graduating high school seniors who plan to continue their education. This year CORE will again award 35 grants – five per director district – of $2,000 each. Grant recipients are chosen via a lottery-type drawing, as there are no scholastic requirements. Applicants must be from households…
When the United States won the gold medal in Men’s Curling at the 2018 Olympic games, the sport became more well-known, but Castle Pines native Alec Celecki got hooked on curling while watching the 2010 Vancouver Olympics when he was 11 years old. Celecki took a Learn-to-Curl class, then joined a league; now, at 25…
Cooper Robinson (17), a junior at Valor Christian High School, has a lot to smile about. He was the goalie on the school’s hockey team that won the 5-A state championship in March. The Eagles finished the season 20-1, winning state 7-3. Since the big win, Robinson has been awarded first team, all-state – the…
Last summer, my sister Callie and I took a hiking holiday to the southwest coast of Ireland. We booked a tour package for a Dingle Way walking excursion. The package booked our accommodations in guest houses or bed and breakfast establishments and moved our luggage while we walked, but unlike other vacation tours, we were…
Castle Pines City Council unanimously approved a proposal to rezone nearly 300 acres of land on the northeast corner of I-25 and Happy Canyon Road. The property was designated as agricultural land but has long been targeted for development. The City initiated the rezoning with the consent of the landowner, North Canyons LLLP, which is…
There is undoubtedly a learning curve when the average resident begins investigating the layers of checks, balances and standards for approving development plans. Oftentimes, it is not until the public becomes involved in discussions over a proposed development that they gain a greater understanding of the review processes. Cities and counties are required to follow…
As the midway point approached for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) Citizens Academy, participants became deeply vested in the program and wanted to learn more about ways to be involved in their community and with the DCSO. The next two classes discussed Peer Support for officers and their families and the Community Resources Unit…
Disc golf is a sport that is gaining popularity across the world. It combines elements of golf and Frisbee, with the goal to get a disc into the designated targets in the fewest throws possible. The City of Castle Pines recently broke ground on this new amenity as part of Pronghorn Park, located near Hess…
The City of Castle Pines is partnering with residents to organize the city’s first-ever Spring Cleanup Day. While cleanup days have been hosted by neighborhood HOAs and the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District in the past, there has never been a citywide effort – until now. As the community grows, it is more important than…