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Just west of Castle Pines, Roxborough State Park sits nestled into the foothills. The park is nearly 4,000 acres of dramatic landscape. It’s a liminal space – where prairie meets vivid red rock mountains. The land previously known as Washington Park – because of a rock formation resembling George Washington’s profile – has served a…
Dennis Smith has a gift for bringing people together. A fourth generation Coloradan, he cares deeply about the state as well as local communities and the country at large. He believes that how people treat each other matters – and it matters a lot. Smith, who is a retired CPA, grew up in Jefferson County…
Sheffield, England, long a center of heavy industry, was the home of James Woodhouse, born in 1843. There, he worked in a foundry and was a master brickmaker. No shrinking violet, James boxed professionally in the bare-knuckled era. He had 100 fights to his credit and no defeats. Imbued with extraordinary energy, he found…
The poodle may be the national dog of France, however, the breed originated as a duck hunter in Germany where the word “pudelin” refers to splashing in water. Since their retrieving water days, the poodle has become a circus performer, a frequent dog show winner, a guide dog, as well as a loving pet for…
At the first hint of spring, hundreds of residents of all ages joined at The Ridge at Castle Pines driving range for the annual Egg Scramble event. The Easter Bunny was on hand for photo opportunities, and complimentary coffee and donuts were served. More than 8,000 colorful eggs were filled with treats, and those who…
Let us consider the “toast” as it relates to celebrating, the traditional take and the new way. Toasting with alcohol is a tradition rooted in superstition, dating back to the Ancient Greeks. But the rule that insists that those who do not drink must still raise a glass containing alcohol must go. A toast is…
Chances are good that a majority of the U.S. population has sat down for brunch at one time or another, but how many have sat and thought about the origins of the late-morning meal? The word “brunch” – coined in the late 19th century – quite obviously smashes the words “breakfast” and “lunch” together, although…
Since I can remember, I have loved having a new toy. I have lived half a century, and I still get excited when I open a box, painstakingly unpack some new treasure, and take it out for a whirl. I get toys for all the parts of my house, but of course my favorite gadgets…
Tucked away in South Denver is an extraordinary resource, a godsend for baby boomers with inherited stamp collections gathering dust. If, after a loved one passed away, you inherited the stamp albums, a pile of books, stock sheets, boxes of loose stamps and whatever else he or she collected with perforations and you are at…
One of Maura Ridder’s greatest joys in life is the relationships she has built with the children, their families and the staff at STEM School Highlands Ranch (SSHR). Not a day goes by where Ridder does not get excited to go to school. Ridder was not always a teacher. Her mother, a college professor, told…
In the early 90s, when McDonald’s, not Starbucks, was on every street corner and fanny packs were a thing, my husband and I met while working in downtown Chicago. We were both living in the big city right out of college on a collision course with adulthood – young, full of dreams, and broke. Back…
Michelle Zotos’ family was one of the first families to put down roots in Surrey Ridge Estates over forty years ago when it was fields, flowers and open space. “I remember the old, abandoned farmhouse by the windmill north of Surrey Ridge and Heather Drive that burned down in the early 1980s,” she recalled. “It…
“It was cold, but so worth it,” stated Sydney Martin, a senior at Valor Christian High School, who volunteered in Nome, Alaska during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The Iditarod Trail is roughly 1,000 miles long, beginning in Anchorage and ending in the Bering Sea town of Nome. In 1925, the Iditarod Trail captured…
The Castle Pines Connection wants to celebrate one of the state’s longest standing cycling traditions and share your stories. Please email editor@castlepinesconnection if you are planning on riding this year. Courtesy Photos By https://events.outsideonline.com/elephantrock/
The Colorado Rangers 14U baseball team won first place in their bracket at the “Can of Corn Classic” tournament in Branson, Missouri, last month. The players hail from Parker, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Elizabeth and Denver and each boy received a championship ring. By Hollen Wheeler; courtesy photos
Cold water therapy has been used as a means of muscle recovery for years, but recent attention has been given to cold water plunging for many other health benefits. Whether it’s a polar plunge in icy waters or a brisk shower in the morning or post-workout, cold water immersion is becoming a way for many…
Jerome Price has a passion for working with special needs students and athletes. “It’s very rewarding. They show you love. They’re always happy to see you,” said Price. His passion started at a young age while growing up in San Diego, California. Price remembers people making fun of his cousin, who had Prader-Willi syndrome. As…
CASTLE VIEW HIGH SCHOOL Estrella Borroel Hernandez Kate Cejudo Valdez Diana Chavez Castro Alyssa Claypool Arianna DiMartino Cooper Dyer Keyvan Gholipoursani Cameron Gladstone McKenna Gonzalez Jacob Guillory Phoenix Hamster Emma Harris Dylan Hettinger Chance Huddleston Antoneo Ibarra Dianna Lucy Nicholson Abigael Marquez Nomar Moreno Ethan Nicholas Corah O’Laughlin Michael Perry Elizabeth Riedel David Rivera Grimaldo…
Mike Sullivan has been a high school counselor with the Douglas County School District (DCSD) for nearly two decades. This year, he was recognized with the District’s top honor at the Apple Awards: Secondary Educator of the Year. The Apple Awards “honor exceptional DCSD educators and staff who are inspiring a love of learning in…
The Douglas County School District (DCSD) is seeking volunteers to fill six empty seats on the District’s Mill Bond Oversight Ad Hoc Committee (MBOC). The MBOC is currently accepting applications for: One (1) Safety and Security Representative One (1) Licensed Educator-Secondary Representative Two (2) Parent/Community Members Region: Highlands Ranch One (1) Licensed Educator-Elementary Representative One…
Rocky Heights Middle school (RHMS) drama students didn’t hold back in their recent spring musical performances of Frozen Jr. The performers followed Elsa’s advice for their acting inhibitions and “let it go.” Their hard work, practice and stage presence paid off. Drama staff at RHMS is actively working to build the department and interest in…
The annual fifth grade show at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) was back this year, and it was worth the wait. Fifth grade students rocked leg warmers, neon and crimped hair for performances of their 1980s montage: ‘80s Blast to the Past. BRE staff and parents grooved in their seats while the kids sang rock and…
Students from all three American Academy (AA) campus performing arts programs experienced unique hands-on learning when they took a trip to New York City. The trip allowed students to not only explore the City, but they were also able to go behind the scenes at Radio City Music Hall and explore areas outside of their…
DSC Montessori (DCSM) teachers and assistants joined the lower elementary classrooms in the United Nations International Day celebration by wearing traditional outfits of their respective country. In preparation for the celebration, classrooms began their assigned continent studies in the second semester where they learned about different countries, cultures, food, places to visit and more. Each…
Timber Trail Elementary students celebrated the joys of spring with their annual Daddy/Daughter Dance. Students and their dates who attended the Spring Fling theme dance enjoyed various activities, treats and dancing to the greatest hits. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Jessica Bird and Shawna Prewett
transports patrons to Mexico By Chris Michlewicz Every spring, Cinco de Mayo provides a perfect reason to indulge in Mexican delicacies and drinks, but one of Castle Rock’s newest restaurants attracts people to the idea of celebrating any time of year. Since Dos Santos opened on Wilcox Street near First Street in the heart of…
By Lisa Nicklanovich, photos courtesy of Ada Vernon Adriana (Ada) Vernon grew up in a very traditional Ukrainian household, even though it was in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. “Ukrainian was my first language. We had traditional Ukrainian food and so many different events at our church. I had to learn poetry from our famous Ukrainian poets…
Located on Daniels Park Road By Chris Michlewicz; photo courtesy of Douglas County A pristine, 53-acre spread west of Daniels Park Road sold last month, and will no longer be developed into 90 new homes as previously proposed. Castle Cliff Farm was the subject of a rezoning application submitted to Douglas County in June 2021.…
By Chris Michlewicz A regional park in Highlands Ranch known for its uneven athletic fields is being revamped with new playing surfaces and an off-leash dog park. A portion of David A. Lorenz Regional Park, located southeast of County Line Road and Colorado Boulevard, was built on top of a former landfill, and the organic…
I-25/Castle Pines Parkway bicycle/pedestrian bridge project seeks input Information and graphic provided by the City of Castle Pines The City of Castle Pines is applying for a grant to fund engineering and preliminary design for a bike/pedestrian bridge over I-25 adjacent to Castle Pines Parkway. The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) is currently collecting…
By Terri Wiebold; graphics courtesy of PWSD and Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) Draft letter to CPNMD Letters in both draft and final form of PWSD’s termination of its inclusion agreement with CPNMD. They are evidence that no community members arbitrarily added inflammatory words after the fact as has been conjectured by CPNMD. Rather, PWSD…
By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Sara Ratcliff Deputy Sara Ratcliff loves her job. She is part of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) Mounted Patrol Division (MPD). Ratcliff has always loved horses and comes from a law enforcement family, so the MPD is a perfect fit for her. “My hobbies include being outdoors and…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) will participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 30. The nationally recognized day brings awareness to the importance of disposing prescription drugs safely and responsibly. It also provides an opportunity to educate the general public about the…
By Shaun Kernahan; photos courtesy of Geoff Blue A member of the Castle Pines City Council from 2014 to 2017, Geoff Blue rejoined Council again in 2022 as District III representative. “I missed seeing the public and helping make great things happen in Castle Pines,” stated Blue. In the years since he last served, Blue…
Article and photos by Terri Wiebold Last month, The Connection featured an article on Backpack Society, an organization that partners with local schools to offer hope through a consistent bag of easy-to-prepare meals on the weekend so kids can focus on important things – like being a kid. On Saturday, March 26, The Castle Pines…
By Carin R Kirkegaard Tuesday May 3, Colorado will hold special district elections across the state. Douglas County registered voters should watch for special district election ballots to arrive in mailboxes by mid-April. Ballots will be mailed between April 11 and April 18 to all eligible electors at the address listed on the voter rolls…
By Chris Michlewicz; photos courtesy of Vinny Burns After cutting his teeth in the restaurant industry in the Castle Pines community, Vinny Burns’ career has come full circle with his position as executive chef at Park Place restaurant at The Ridge golf course. Burns started out washing dishes at the age of 15 at the…
Outward and upward By Hollen Wheeler; rendering courtesy of Journey Church Journey Church will double its facility size to accommodate a growing membership that has experienced exponential growth. When the church opened its doors on Clydesdale Road in 2017, it had a membership of 500; today, the church family is 3,500. Journey launched its “Build”…
Article and photos by Tammy Abramovitz The venerable Texas institution known as Whataburger entered the Colorado burger scene in February. The first franchise to open in Colorado, specifically Colorado Springs, features the burger so big that it took two hands to hold and so good that after a single bite, customers couldn’t help but exclaim,…
Making a difference, holistically By Hollen Wheeler; photos courtesy of Vonda Muncy Acupuncturist Vonda Muncy is a businesswoman, outdoor enthusiast and wellness guru. For more than five years, she has run Soul Potential Acupuncture & Wellness, located on Happy Canyon Road in the Village shops. As a clinical director, doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine…
gives hope to children and families here and everywhere By Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of Beth Woods Hope’s Promise creates hopeful journeys through pregnancy support, adoption services, orphan care and foster care. Located in Castle Rock, Hope’s Promise touches children and families in Douglas County, as well as across the country and the world. Executive…
Article and photo by Patte Smith In early March, South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) Risk Reduction Specialist Einar Jensen chatted with concerned Surrey Ridge homeowners about reducing the chance of homes burning in the case of a wildfire and reviewing the importance of proper fire mitigation. Surrey Ridge, like many other communities in Douglas County,…
Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner The last two weeks in February were spent giving the Sunshine State a thorough going-over, putting 1,700 miles on a red Mini Cooper. Unlike our laid-back trip to Florida’s panhandle last fall, we crisscrossed the state twice, putting a big toe into the Everglades before departing. If you’ve not…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Jennifer Dunbar Hazel, an 11-year-old Maine coon cat, has eyes of green with gold that mesmerize those who dare to look her in the eye. Her intense stare is one full of love and affection with unconditional loyalty to her owners – Andrew and Jennifer Dunbar. The Maine coon…
and in person Join thousands of fellow animal advocates across Colorado and the country for the Dumb Friends League 29th annual Furry Scurry. Registration is now open at furryscurry.org for participants to walk, run or scurry in person or virtually to make a difference in the lives of homeless pets and horses. On Saturday, May…
Glendale Farm Dog Park Article and photos by Patte Smith Arf arf and big arf – dog language for great news – pooches and pals rejoice. The incredibly popular Glendale Farm Dog Park on the South Havana Street frontage road is being renovated. Planned in two phases, construction of Phase 1 is underway with the…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of Sedalia Firehouse Museum Charlie Alexander was one of Sedalia’s more colorful locals, born a Hoosier in 1882. His early years were filled with hardship, and he was placed on an orphan train by his mother when he was 11 years old. He was one of 250,000 such children shipped…
a reminder to invest in our planet By Lisa Nicklanovich Earth Day 2022 is April 22, marking the 52nd anniversary of the first Earth Day celebrated in 1970. Earth Day is focused on accelerating solutions to combat climate change and to activate everyone, including governments, citizens, and businesses to do their part. This year’s theme…
Arriba! It is muy bueno. By Hollen Wheeler; courtesy photos A lesser-known but vibrant micro-hood of Denver, due south of downtown, is the Art District on Santa Fe, or “the District” to the locals. Tucked in between Lincoln Park and the Baker neighborhoods, the District is known for its Latino heritage, visible and tangible on…
Physical therapist found her future life growing up in Castle Pines By Elean Gersack, photos courtesy of Jamie Archuletta Jamie Parsons (now Jamie Archuletta) remembers her childhood in Castle Pines like it was yesterday – playing soccer, riding bikes, attending B-track at Buffalo Ridge Elementary, participating in field day and fundraisers, and always being outside.…
By Hollen Wheeler; courtesy photo Need a new mini-series to binge watch? Inventing Anna is one of Netflix’s latest, a drama based on a real-life grifter who swindles highbrow New York society, friends and hotels out of more than $250,000. The series, created and produced by Grey’s Anatomy Shonda Rhimes, has escalated to national popularity…
Dear Reader, Let’s pretend we’re at our favorite restaurant and we get carried away in conversation, but we’re not ready for our plate to be taken away. What are the nonverbal clues, the sign language, the secret codes spelled out through silverware? In other words, how do you get your server’s attention while staying engaged…
for Mother Earth By Claire Bauer, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photo Every year, Earth Day takes place on April 22, but for the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) Eco Club, the environment matters every day. The club, with a mission “to better educate our school on environmental issues and promote sustainability within the school and…
By Patte Smith; courtesy photo Reduce, reuse and recycle … it’s the mantra for Earth Day and all through the year. While these three words sound similar, they are nuanced by behavior and the ultimate impact they have on the planet. Reduce is perhaps the most challenging, as it requires a shift in psychology and…
for a spring feast Article and photo by Lisa Crockett I love spring. Even though I’ve experienced the change of seasons more times than I care to admit, there’s always something miraculous about green grass and blossoms on the trees. After a long, cold winter, sunshine and warmth enough to venture out without a coat…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Russell Christensen Local Boy Scout Russell Christensen recently finished his Eagle Scout Service Project, which benefited Legacy Village Assisted Living and Memory Care. Christensen realized the Legacy Village residents hadn’t had as much personal interaction with others due to COVID precautions, and he wanted to help. “I did some…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Kristen Krieger Looking through the eyes of her kindergarten students, Kristen Krieger sees honesty and innocence in each of her student’s actions and answers. A committed educator and kindergarten teacher at American Academy (AA) with 15 years of classroom experience in the metro Denver area, Krieger embraces these gifts…
celebrating a milestone birthday By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Tina Howell Two months ago, longtime Castle Pines resident Tina Howell celebrated 50 trips around the sun. Like many people before her reaching this milestone in life, it seemed like Howell needed a way to mark the moment. Some run a marathon, others…
helping families during hardship By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Anna Caldwell Anna Caldwell and her family moved to Castle Pines from Arizona in 2014. “We love living in Colorado and spend as much time as possible on the ski slopes, camping, and hiking,” stated Caldwell. With time on her hands after her daughter went…
By Stacie Chadwick As I continually manage the time-space continuum bullet points of my life, I often see minutes on the clock ticking away – not standing still. On a recent trip to Boulder, however, I decided to forego the last cocktail of the night and instead sweat my toxins out in my friend Amanda’s…
it is heating up By Lisa Nicklanovich People have been using saunas all over the world for centuries, but infrared (IR) saunas have been getting more attention lately by those who claim a number of health benefits. ‘Infra’ red light means light that is below red on the spectrum. It has such long wavelengths that…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Nick Stark Tanner (TJ) Stark is fast, really fast. He recently won first place in the POWRi Quarter Midget Nationals at the Phoenix Raceway. That makes him one of the fastest kids in the country. Quarter Midget racing is like the little leagues of car racing – it’s paved…
carries community contributed couture By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Karen Bunch In early spring 2019, Karen Davis, an educational assistant in the severe and significant needs department at Castle Rock Middle School and owner of Clover’s Closet, was clearing out closets in her home when she discovered she had a pile of hardly-used…
By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of Mark Middlebrooks American Academy’s (AA) Destination Imagination (DI) team Volta Science competed and placed second in this year’s South Metro Regional Tournament service learning category. Team Volta Science explored challenges surrounding the lack of clean water in the countries of Eritrea and Ethiopia and worked to promote awareness alongside…
advance to state By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Sara Haynes Of the 16 middle school students who qualified for The Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee, six were from Douglas County schools, and three were from Rocky Heights Middle School. Aayush Singh, Aidan Sheehy and Kathleen Keesey (pictured left) represented RHMS at the state…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos of courtesy Rebecca Jones DCS Montessori (DCSM) greenhouse teacher Rebecca Jones loves spring and all things growing green. In preparation for the spring season and DCSM’s school community annual spring plant sale, Jones and her greenhouse students looked closely at nutrients needed for plants to thrive. Using two growth systems, the…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Ilana Bove Timber Trail Elementary second grade students created “Biography Bottles” in the likeness of a famous person they chose to study and research. Using 2-liter soda bottles and other select craft supplies, the students created unique biography bottles of figures like Queen Elizabeth I, King Tut and Helen…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori and Buffalo Ridge Elementary Douglas County Libraries Battle of the Books (BOTB) continues to be a huge success with teams of third through sixth grade students. BOTB is a book trivia tournament that engages hundreds of students each year. Teams compete against each other in interschool battles…
By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Jean Dupper Andrew Dupper is a senior at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) where he has been involved in the drama department his entire four years. Dupper got hooked on drama in eighth grade and hasn’t looked back. Honk! Jr. was the first musical he performed in, as the…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Kelli Weinrich Kindergarten students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) have a new unit in PE, thanks to a program called All Kids Bike and the generosity of the community. All Kids Bike is a national organization dedicated to helping children learn to ride a bike. The program partners with…