Read the stories from the latest issue:
Caleb McNeil, a freshman at Rock Canyon High School, has been hard at work crafting one-of-a-kind textiles in his basement studio. The Village at Castle Pines resident first began making rugs for his business, Rug Ruff, a year and a half ago. Inspired by Dmitrii Suldin, a well-known rug-tufting artist who has amassed hundreds of…
Thanksgiving, the uniquely American holiday, is a traditional time to gather with family and friends, notwithstanding the possibility of difficult interpersonal dynamics. From the first celebration in 1619, the holiday has always been dichotomous: about strife and about appreciation; with relationships at the heart of the holiday. Pick up one of the books in this…
Jim and Nancy Yank’s love story began with a pen and paper, thousands of miles apart from each other. More than five decades later, they are still writing their story together, where they are enjoying retirement just a few minutes from family. “We’re just very happy,” Nancy said with a smile. “We live two miles…
It was a picturesque evening at the Denver Botanic Gardens on Friday, September 26. The Village at Castle Pines residents Kari and Matt Ansay co-hosted a “Garden Gala” to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Treeline Pass (TLP), a nonprofit day program for adults with autism and developmental disabilities. Kari is one of the co-founders of…
Mark your calendars for December 9, Colorado Gives Day (CGD). The Colorado Gives Foundation (CGF) launched CGD in 2010, and since then, Coloradans have raised more than half a billion dollars, including more than $54 million in 2024 alone. This year marks the 50th anniversary of CGF. While the recognized “big day” is in December,…
One of the things I love about November is that it is filled with nostalgia. I love the chilly temperatures, the seasonal decorations, the falling leaves and the gatherings of friends and loved ones. Longtime readers of this column will also know I have an ongoing love-hate relationship with pie. Yes, pie. I love to…
Making homemade sourdough bread is not new, but enthusiasm blossomed during the pandemic and the trend continues to be popular today. A sourdough starter is a combination of flour and water that is “fed” over time, generating wild yeast from the air to develop beneficial lactic acid bacteria to give rise and fermentation. Feeding means…
Men from The Village at Castle Pines 4.0 tennis team, plus a few extra friends, enjoyed a day of tennis, golf and good times for the “sacred” honor of hoisting The Castle Cup trophy. The annual event took place on Saturday, September 27, at Lone Tree Golf Club. First up was tennis, formatted in three rounds…
In quiet rooms that feel more like a wellness retreat than a medical office, a new form of therapy is changing lives. In the last five to six years, intravenous (IV) ketamine, once primarily used as an anesthetic, has been embraced by some as an intervention technique for people struggling with anxiety, addiction, post-traumatic stress…
August meant back to school, and The Castle Pines Connection partnered with local businesses, nonprofits and neighbors to help teachers from our six community feeder schools to Complete the Classroom through financial support and classroom supplies. We received very compelling nominations from the community and are pleased to congratulate the following teachers for being selected:…
Nicole Boyer, fifth grade teacher at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE), went above and beyond with her class this fall when she ran the PACER test with them. PACER stands for “Progressive, Aerobic, Cardiovascular, Endurance, Run.” It is a fitness assessment done in the fall and spring for fourth and fifth grades. Students run 20-meter…
The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) girls flag football team, led by Coach Jerome Price, wrapped up an impressive season this fall with a 10-5 record, earning the 10th seed in the playoff competition. This is only the third team at RCHS since flag football was added to high school sports programs in Colorado and…
Vibrant Culture Meets Elevated Dining With stunning mountain views and the rich colors of fall, The Brinkerhoff offers one of Castle Rock’s most picturesque dining backdrops. Located at 6373 Promenade Parkway, this modern interpretation of the classic American steakhouse invites guests to experience warmth, elegance and connection, all steeped in family history and timeless…
Ryan and Lindsey Gertzs’ story, filled with kids, pets, family camping trips and so much more, began on the CU Boulder campus 24 years ago. Lindsey, a communications major, met Ryan, a flight instructor studying finance, and the two have been together since. Both Lindsey and Ryan grew up in California, northern and southern respectively,…
On September 3, officials from the City of Castle Pines and Planning Commission joined Life Time representatives for the groundbreaking of the new 102,000 square-foot athletic resort in The Canyons neighborhood. This is the largest commercial development within the 2-million-square-foot commercial area zoned for future business in The Canyons neighborhood. Life Time will be located…
A safe space. It sounds simple, but when someone is in a place where he or she cannot close their eyes at night to sleep without fear of abuse, safety is life altering. It is a new beginning. On August 27, Douglas County leaders, law enforcement and community partners joined with the nonprofit TESSA…
To provide a safe, convenient and responsible way for citizens to dispose of prescription medication that is no longer needed, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) holds two National Prescription Drug Take Back Days each year: one in the spring and one in the fall. This fall it is on Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m.…
The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) recognized Castle Pines City Manager Michael Penny with its Distinguished Service Award (DSA) at the annual DRCOG awards celebration. The event, themed “Innovate, Collaborate, Elevate,” marked DRCOG’s 70th anniversary as the region’s metropolitan planning organization. The DSA honors individuals who have contributed to the success of DRCOG programs…
Ballots for the upcoming Coordinated Election on Tuesday, November 4 will be mailed to all eligible voters in Douglas County beginning on Friday, October 10. Follow the checklist below to make sure you are election-ready: Visit Colorado’s secure, statewide voter registration database, GoVoteColorado.gov to register to vote, check your voter registration status, select your political…
When Melissa Finkelstein opened the doors to Power Mixx Fitness in the Village Shops five years ago, she was not just launching a second location in the south Denver Metro area; she was continuing to build on her commitment to creating an inclusive fitness studio where everyone feels welcome. “I want people to step…
Someone once said, “Failure is for learning.” There are no better lessons than those learned the hard way. Consider The Village at Castle Pines neighbor Carl. His story is consistent with the credo of Alcoholics Anonymous, one of love and service. For 17 of his 40 years in recovery, Carl has been involved in corrections,…
Sam Isert flies a Cessna 172 plane while in training to be a pilot. His dream job is to fly for Hawaiian Airlines. Sam Isert—swimmer, skier, hiker and mountain biker—grew up doing everything he could on land and water. Now, the 24-year-old pilot-in-training plans to conquer a third element as he takes to the sky.…
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 for our friendly business…
Every two years, The Castle Pines Connection publishes the Neighborhood Directory for The Village at Castle Pines. No, it is not yet time for the 2026-2028 directory, but it is time to show some additional love to the businesses that make the directory possible. Included in the back of the book is a list of…
Brenda Erickson underscores that she is a private person. But the 82-year-old lady has had an adventurous life. She and her late husband, Hyland (“Hy”), traveled the globe extensively and raised three children. Brenda is a two-time cancer survivor and agreed to be interviewed because she has a message she is vehement about. “For…
It was Good Friday 1993 in a church in Pompano Beach, Florida, when Rick Egitto decided to approach beautiful Cindy, who was helping an elderly gentleman with his hymn book. The story varies on who saw whom first, but the two learned they worked near each other, and their romance began. The couple married on…
It is not every day that you get to take in the magnitude of Douglas County’s resources all in one place and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the extraordinary work our first responder, fire and rescue heroes do in service to our community. On September 12, more than 550 guests had that opportunity…
On September 18, the Mission Ballroom in Denver was host to the Pepper ‘Em with Love Gala benefiting Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary (PSDS). A Littleton-based nonprofit, PSDS is a compassionate home where elderly dogs are cared for during their good days, bad days and last days. Nearly 450 attendees gathered for the fundraiser which raised…
The Shih Tzu is a small, affectionate breed with a royal history. Originally bred to live in Chinese imperial palaces, these dogs were bred purely for companionship, not work or protection. Weighing between nine and 16 pounds, they carry themselves with charm and confidence. Their biggest strength is their emotional connection to their owners and…
Colorado’s sunny days and beauty invite us to spend time outdoors. But as a semi-arid region with generally quite low humidity and an average elevation of about 6,800 feet above sea level, there are some considerations for living in the state and enjoying outdoor time. Colorado’s elevation is higher than many other parts of the…
To honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we return to shine a light on Sense of Security (SOS). This Denver-based nonprofit is celebrating 25 years of assisting Colorado breast cancer patients with a Splash of Pink celebration on Saturday, October 18 at the Cable Center in Denver. It is a remarkable milestone. SOS supports patients facing…
It was by fate and then luck that Olin John “Jack” and later “Doc Jack” Butterfield and Dorothy Benway of Sedalia met and married. Both were born in the late 1890s. Dorothy’s father was a prosperous merchant in Lincoln, Nebraska, until a newly-purchased neon sign for his store sparked an electrical fire and destroyed his…
To honor the firefighters from 9/11, the Colorado 9/11 Stair Climb originated when five Denver firefighters climbed 110 stories of a high-rise office building in downtown Denver in 2005. In the following years, the Stair Climb grew in popularity until it was officially established by the West Metro Firefighters Local 1309 in 2009 and found…
Arachnophobia, or the pathological fear of spiders, afflicts one in three people in the United States. It is one of the most prolific specific phobias across geographical and cultural boundaries, according to Psychology Today. With roughly 35,000 spider species world-wide, only about a dozen are potentially lethal to humans. The eight-legged creatures are often vilified…
Dear Mrs. A. Would you give us some etiquette tips for Halloween? -Scary Mary in Hidden Pointe Dear Mary, Isn’t it a fun time of year, and aren’t we lucky to live in neighborhoods that enjoy and support Halloween festivities? Here are some ways to participate if you choose to: Give trick or treaters a…
When working in a dark basement or dusty shed, most people know to keep an eye out for a tiny but potent danger—the western black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus). But how dangerous are they really? Black widows tend to live in dark, undisturbed areas, usually close to the ground. They can be found under shrubs,…
Douglas County’s Senior Life held its biennial event, Vintage & Vibrant, last month at the Highlands Ranch Senior Center. More than 200 seniors, volunteers and partners participated in the breakfast – lunch event. Dr. Nalin Mehta spoke about nanobiotechnology in medicine, a technology that plays a growing role in both diagnostic and therapeutic medicine. The…
October is the month to run through a haunted house and get the heart racing, learn our haunted history on a Denver ghost tour or take a hayride and meander through a pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin. Here is a list of attractions to choose from, whether one is looking for a fright…
Special thanks to Kristin Olsen, winner of The Connection’s Colorado Highland Games social media ticket giveaway, for sharing her photos from the event at the Denver Polo Club in Sedalia last month with us. Kristin is pictured below with a craftsman who was demonstrating how to make a “targe,” a Scottish shield. To learn more,…
On August 22, more than 600 neighbors gathered at the Village Shops for Vino in the Village, the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce’s signature event. In its 10th year, the popular party has sold out multiple years in a row and this year was no exception. Guests enjoyed chatting with vendors, listening to live music…
From amusement park rides to live music, this year’s Party in the Park was one for the books. On August 23, neighbors came together at Elk Ridge Park to close out the summer with a night of celebration. The annual event is organized by the City of Castle Pines and the Chamber and has become…
Crosswords brought to you by Allstate Insurance — Tammy Lopez (720) 733-1331 Across 1. Pa’s spouse 3. Negative 5. Brightly-colored parrot 7. A deadly sin 9. Knight’s “suit” 12. Sine or cosine 13. Wolf, grass, house, e.g. 14. Ghost’s cry 16. Astronomer Johannes 17. Ghost costume? 18. Menial 19. Like a chili pepper 20.…
As a part of the 2025 “A Trip Around the World” activities, residents at Legacy Village of Castle Pines were treated to a Hawaiian-themed celebration with no travel required. The WIKI WIKI Band played island favorites like “Blue Hawaii” and “Tiny Bubbles,” while a talented hula dancer brought the spirit of Hawaii to the community.…
Cozy season has begun and I am here for it. Snuggly sweaters, fluffy slippers and deliciously warming creations from the kitchen are exactly what I’m craving as the weather cools. I can’t determine who decided that October, in addition to all things pumpkin spice, was the month of the slow cooker, but I’m here for…
Pears are the perfect fall fruit. Anything an apple can do, a pear can do, too. Juicy and sweet, pears can be snacked on fresh, added to hearty salads and featured in bubbling crisps and pies. According to usapears.com, pears are an excellent source of dietary fiber and are low in calories. Pears contain vitamin…
To be of service. To help others. We often hear that call to action, but we do not always know what it looks like to get involved. It can be simple, like loaning a neighbor a hand when needed. It can be leaning into the gifts we were given––like the ability to swim and the…
The last week of August was a busy time at Marla Jensen’s home in Whisper Canyon as she hosted her annual pickleball and Mahjong tournaments. This year, there were six pickleball teams all with coordinated outfits and creative pickleball-themed names. “Unfortunately, the weather had a mind of its own and we had to suspend play…
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), a global campaign to raise awareness for breast cancer, increase screenings and provide critical support for patients and survivors. Since 1989, increased awareness through campaigns like BCAM has helped reduce breast cancer deaths in the United States by 44%, according to the American Cancer Society. Mammograms, X-rays of…
Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) school gained another Mr. Ryckman this year. Tim Ryckman has been BRE’s art teacher for nearly a decade but that classroom is now the domain of Jack Ryckman. Tim shifted focus and created a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) class and curriculum, which left an opening in the art…
Classes at Buffalo Ridge Elementary are back in session, but not everyone is ready to get to work. The school security guard captured this special photo of eager fourth graders in Mrs. Acosta’s class lined up at the window, excited to see a curious baby deer outside of their classroom. No doubt, we live in…
On August 16, American Academy’s (AA) three campuses celebrated their 20th anniversary at Philip S. Miller Park in Castle Rock. The event was filled with music, food and heartfelt connection as families, staff, students and alumni came together to honor AA’s growth, academic excellence and community spirit. Three original staff members—Mark Middlebrooks, Laurie Neil and…
Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) students enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon at the annual Back to School Splash, held in September. The schoolyard transformed into a welcome back celebration featuring giant inflatables, lawn games, face painting and a foam party. The dunk tank was especially popular, giving students the chance to throw a ball to engage a…
Dining meets dopamine It is lights out and away we go! The F1 Arcade Denver had its grand opening on September 10. Located northeast of downtown Denver in the River North Arts District, known colloquially as “RiNo,” the experience had all the excitement and adrenaline rush of a Grand Prix race where high-octane excitement meets…
Pierce Jacoway’s heart is with firefighting and family. Married to Jen for 17 years, the couple have two boys, Cooper (13) and Griffin (9) and Lucy, a yellow lab. Living in the Knightsbridge neighborhood, the Jacoways love sports, with the boys heavily involved in baseball and football. They can also be found camping, skiing, fishing…
Douglas County officials recently held the groundbreaking for a future biochar and waste diversion facility in Sedalia, south of Airport Road, off of US Highway 85. The facility, which is intended to be a sustainable solution for wildfire mitigation debris, will be operational in spring 2026 and the first county-owned and operated biochar facility in…
With an anticipated completion date of late 2025, the world’s largest wildlife overpass is being constructed over I-25 in southern Douglas County near the Greenland interchange between Larkspur and Monument. Called the Greenland Wildlife Overpass, the project reached the half-way milestone in late July and is a critical component of the overall wildlife crossing system…
The Town of Castle Rock (Town) is planning to widen Fifth Street in downtown Castle Rock, a major arterial road connecting local and regional travel between the eastern areas of downtown and I-25. With approvals by Town Council, construction will begin this month and be competed in 2029. Roadway and pedestrian improvements for Fifth Street…
In August, the Highlands Ranch Community Association’s Backcountry Wilderness Area (BWA) expanded its Sunshine & Storytime program to serve more children in the community. The program now offers increased weekly outdoor story times, from one to three times per week, to meet the growing community demand. Each week, the story will be different with themes…
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will be in place for all areas of Douglas County due to heightened fire danger conditions. These restrictions are implemented to reduce the risk of wildfires and ensure public safety throughout the county. The following activities are not allowed under Stage 1 Restrictions: No open burning of any kind No…
On August 4, a district court judge in Douglas County sided with the City of Castle Pines in upholding the City Council’s denial of a McDonald’s drive-through restaurant in the Parkway Plaza development in the vicinity of the intersection of Lagae Road and Castle Pines Parkway. The property owner of the proposed McDonald’s site initiated…
We all play a role in preserving Colorado’s most precious resource: water. The Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD) partners with Resource Central, an environmental nonprofit, to offer practical tools to save water, reduce outdoor watering costs and create beautiful, waterwise landscapes. “If you’ve been thinking about replacing your lawn, now is the time to…
On July 9, the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) launched Colorado LIFTS (Linking Individuals and Families To Services), a new way to connect people in Colorado with a statewide, connected network of mental health, substance use, crisis support and care navigation. “Since taking office, our administration has been committed to increasing behavioral health support for…
The 2026 Douglas County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) is underway, and the County is asking residents to take a survey to help identify safety issues and potential problems in our area, specific to homes and property. The HMP identifies and evaluates risks and vulnerabilities associated with hazards and resulting disasters and leads to development of…
Baseball and softball players in Colorado now have a new home to improve their swings. Longtime HOA2 resident Todd Rafter and his business partner Lorne Levy opened the state’s first Gradum Gswing franchise last fall. The facility is already gaining popularity as a training spot for players of all ages. Located in Centennial, Gradum Gswing…
This partnership is about feeding the whole person—body and spirit. – Terri Wiebold, Publisher, The Castle Pines Connection A new partnership between The Castle Pines Connection and Nourish Meals on Wheels is delivering more than just hot meals, it is bringing uplifting local stories right to the doorsteps of Douglas County’s most isolated seniors.…
Jada Horan Freelance photographer and writer Jada was born and raised in Colorado, and she has lived in Castle Pines for most of her life. She attended Timber Trail Elementary, Rocky Heights Middle School and Rock Canyon High School and was on yearbook in both middle school and high school. “It wasn’t until my freshman…
The Castle Pines Connection would like to congratulate our very own editor, Hollen Wheeler (pictured left), on being accepted into Leadership Douglas County (LDC) 2025-26. The Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce created LDC to “continue to identify, educate and motivate current and emerging leaders to improve Douglas County through personal and collective commitment.” The two-year…
The school year is officially underway, which means the halls and classrooms at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) are once again filled with the contagious grin, spirit and purple treat-filled pockets of Bill Philbin, better known to students and staff as “Mr. Purple.” Bill, a retired Hewlett-Packard engineer, spends his days caring for his grandson Patrick,…