Read the stories from the latest issue:
By Chris Michlewicz; photo courtesy of Barbara A. Lane A Castle Rock woman with a passion for creating and connecting with people was selected as Zontian of the Year. Barbara A. Lane, who has lived in the Sapphire Pointe neighborhood since 2004, received the honor from the local chapter of the Zonta Club, an international…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photo The Village at Castle Pines resident Stephanie Tanner called intermittent fasting (IF), “life-changing.” “I have lost more than 35 pounds since I started IF a few years back, and I am in the best shape of my life. I am a breast cancer patient and my doctor was impressed with…
2021 registration is open! By Patte Snith; photos courtesy of the Village Idiots Cycling Club Make a difference in your community Meet new people and have fun Explore local ride opportunities and adventures Raise money for charities the club supports Welcome a wide range of cycling abilities Join the annual out-of-town adventure ride Work side-by-side…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; Photos courtesy of Castle Pines Running Castle Pines Running club recently headed up Waterton Canyon for the group’s sixth annual New Year’s Day run. The group that braved the crisp wintery morning was rewarded with quintessential Colorado views as they trekked up the canyon for a round-trip run. Rob Harris, one…
By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos Students at Douglas County School District (DCSD) elementary schools went back to full-time, in-person learning last month. As of press time, DCSD was still working on a plan to return middle and high schools to a hybrid model. In the meantime, kids at DCSD middle and high schools have been…
Thursday, February 4 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Licensed clinical social worker Nick Thompson is a dynamic and entertaining presenter with a unique perspective on helping students cope with social media, school and helping them to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Thompson has been working with students and families for more than 13…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Jen Murdock-Jacoway and Claudio Ramos Students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary school showed they can persevere and enjoy “regular” school activities, even if the way they participate shifts to wearing face masks, face shields and physical distancing. 2020 brought a record number of students who tried out for the annual…
By Claire Bauer, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photos Having fun and finding light in dark times is often difficult, but rarely unachievable. Students attending online school at home, restricted from seeing friends in person and struggling with the shutdown of many sports and extracurricular activities, have demonstrated it is possible over the past several months.…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori The Douglas County Libraries (DCL) Battle of the Books (BOTB) is one of DCS Montessori’s (DCSM) favorite programs to compete in. Although this year’s traditional program was canceled, DCL introduced a fun alternate program which allowed more students to participate. Traditionally, BOTB is a rigorous program that…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of American Academy American Academy (AA) continues to support law enforcement and is appreciative of their presence in the Castle Pines community. In honor of January’s Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) deputies and AA school resource officer Deputy Eric Rhymer were invited to the Castle Pines…
Information and photos provided by DCS Montessori DCS Montessori (DCSM) middle school math and science students participated in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics project where they designed a pedestrian bridge out of toothpicks with the ultimate goal to hold a heavy weight-bearing load. The project challenged students to explore truss and structural framing designs…
if too long separate and put as a subhead above writer’s name I used Heading 3. by Patte Smith Copy paragraphs pasted here. If you see a pullout quote in the story from the paper, add between a paragraph you feel it will fit well with. The type is Heading 3 or 4 your choice…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Diane Demis Diane and Peter Demis spent their Thanksgiving weekend rescuing a mother cat and her five kittens from under an electrical shed along Interstate 225. Diane, a resident of The Village at Castle Pines, is a mother of two and a self-proclaimed animal lover. She and her…
By Chris Michlewicz; graphics courtesy of North Canyons Partners It’s been roughly one year since the first resident took occupancy in his home in The Canyons neighborhood on the east side of the City of Castle Pines. This first phase of development provides a glimpse into what’s to come in the next few years. One…
By Elizabeth Wood West; courtesy photo Douglas County voters elected a new commissioner in November to fill former District II two-term Commissioner Roger Partridge’s seat. They chose someone who has strong community and public service roots – George Teal. Teal’s public service began with the U.S. Army, where he served for 10 years and was…
Information provided by Douglas County On December 23, 2020, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment granted Douglas County a variance that would allow some local businesses to have indoor patrons up to 25% of their normal capacity – including restaurants (see related story page 33). The variance is contingent on the County’s ability…
Article and photos by Kathy Fallert Patrons of Ziggi’s Coffee in Castle Pines were in for a treat the morning of Friday, December 17, as the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) showed some warm gratitude by handing out Ziggi’s gift cards. Sheriff Tony Spurlock along with five deputies caught up with residents in the drive-thru…
By Chris Michlewicz; photo courtesy of the Colorado State Patrol A contactless way for motorists to share their identification, vehicle registration and proof of insurance with state troopers has arrived in Colorado. The Colorado State Patrol, which conducts law enforcement on interstates and some state highways, began accepting Colorado digital IDs on November 30, 2020.…
By Chris Michlewicz Potential revisions to the City of Castle Pines Comprehensive Plan could put a greater focus on improving roads and encouraging economic development. Every five years, the City of Castle Pines takes a look at its comprehensive master plan to see what language might need to be added or adjusted. In recent months,…
Italian simplicity with a rustic touch By Kathy Fallert, photos courtesy of Lasinda Crane October 1, 2020 was a special day for Jimmy and Lasinda Crane, owners of Cranelli’s Italian Restaurant in Lone Tree. It was their 20th wedding anniversary. Together for 27 years, the couple lives in Highlands Ranch, as do their three kids,…
By Chris Michlewicz The use of QR codes has grown in popularity in recent months as a way for businesses and organizations to conduct day-to-day interactions while complying with public safety and social distancing protocols. QR codes, the square-shaped black and white barcodes, are read by the camera on your smartphone. Simply pointing the camera…
Information and photos provided by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce provided holly and jolly cheer at its annual holiday event for community families. As most things in 2020, this year’s event looked a little different. In lieu of an in-person pancake and bacon breakfast, the chamber hosted the…
For the purposes of this publication, the 80108 ZIP code (pictured in yellow to the right) is considered “Castle Pines” and is part of our saturation mailing for all single family homes and businesses. Because the U.S. Postal Service periodically reconfigures the courier routes for area ZIP codes, our distribution sometimes changes unexpectedly. If you…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard The traditional family scrapbook filled with snapshots of the first day of school, the birthday boy blowing out his candles on the cake, the 16-year-old posing with their license to drive, or kids burying their dad in the sand at last summer’s beach vacation is one way to preserve your family’s…
By Shaun Kernahan; courtesy photos It has been just over a year since the Castle Pines community welcomed its newest dental practice, Dental Muse and Dr. Yuliya Rabinovich. Daughter to a mother who ran a dental practice in her native country of Latvia, it is no surprise Rabinovich found herself entering into the dental world.…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; courtesy photos Castle Pines business owners Theo and Ashleigh Civitello, Nicole Gregory and Sarah Phillips recognized an increased need that so many local families faced this past holiday season. Knowing what a hard year 2020 had been for so many, the Civitellos, Gregory and Phillips took on the role of Santa’s…
Information and photos provided by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Volunteers from the Castle Pines community met at Legacy Village the weekend before Christmas for a night of family caroling, filling the crisp night air with beautiful harmony. Legacy Village provided holiday sheet music and hot cocoa for the performers who met in various…
Information provided by Douglas County; photos courtesy of Mira Brand Was there anyone who wasn’t ready to say goodbye to 2020 and bring in the New Year? On December 19, Douglas County residents were treated to two 30-minute, high-in-the-sky fireworks shows from locations at Rueter-Hess Reservoir in Parker and near Rocky Heights Middle School in…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photo Go on an African safari, skydive, stroll the Cinque Terre, or write a novel…most people have life goals or wishes for the future. Collecting a list of goals, dreams and aspirations one would like to experience in their lifetime is a life list. Some may call it their bucket list.…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos Residents Brynn Vaughn and Jill Fenton, both avid readers, discovered a way to read a wider variety of books, stay connected and have a little fun, healthy competition with book bingo. They came upon a bingo card on Pinterest three years ago that had categories of books in the squares,…
advocates for kids during toughest times Article and photo by Chris Michlewicz When the worst of the worst happens to a child, there’s a team dedicated to getting them justice and access to every available recovery resource. The work by SungateKids is without a doubt some of the most difficult there is, but there’s also…
By Chris Michlewicz; photo courtesy of Mira Brand A celestial phenomenon known as the “Great Conjunction,” in which Jupiter and Saturn appear close to one another in the southwestern night sky, was seen over Castle Pines last month. Also known as the “Christmas Star,” December 2020 was the first time in almost 800 years that…
The Castle Pines community unquestionably loves its pets. This is evident by the number of dogs that join their people walking the neighborhood streets, taking in the beautiful Colorado weather and landscape. After eight years of seeking the cutest pet in the pines, The Connection has seen the love our community has for its cats,…
Congratulations Rocky, the 6-month-old English black Labrador who lives with his family, Mike, Maria Isabel, Sofia (9) and Emilia (5) at their home in the Hidden Pointe subdivision of the City of Castle Pines for winning the Cutest Pet in the Pines honors for 2020. Rocky’s favorite treat is a good pig’s ear. He loves…
By Stacie Chadwick I have a confession to make. It doesn’t involve holding a feature spot as perp of the day on nextdoor.com, stealing the crust off my husband’s homemade pies or anything that would land me a lead role on Snapped. It’s actually pretty benign. I’m on vacation. As I write, I’m watching the…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photo January is the month many of us work to undo the cookies and eggnog, the sitting inside while it snowed, the stress of the holidays, and well, the stress of the entire previous year. Fera Butts, a Functional Medicine Practitioner at the BESANA Health and Wellness clinic in Sky Ridge…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo by Krysta Parr Winter is one of the most difficult times of year to collect enough blood products to meet patient needs, according to the American Red Cross. Cold weather, holiday schedules, and illness result in fewer donations during winter months – which is why January is National Blood Donor Awareness…
By Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos In 1859, Sarah Coberly operated a halfway house rest stop in Huntsville, on the stage road to Colorado Springs. Husband James died early of an Indian arrow in Franktown. She had three daughters, Hersa, Mattie and a third, the adopted Lizzie Fields. Hersa first met the gallant Silas Soule as…
Community mother-daughter teams work to make a better community By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of the Elevation Chapter of National Charity League Douglas County’s Elevation Chapter of National Charity League, Inc. (NCL), was founded in 2018 and serves more than 112 local philanthropies. NCL’s program is based around leadership development, community service and cultural…
Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner Sandwiched softly between Brazil and Argentina is Uruguay, a compact, laid-back progressive republic. Independent since 1828, she is stable and urbane. Likened for decades as a Switzerland without the mountains, Uruguay still remains under the radar of all but the most seasoned traveler. Big mistake. To visit makes for…
Article and photo by Lisa Nicklanovich Who doesn’t want to know the secrets to living a long, healthy life? The Blue Zones, areas of the world that boast the most people who live to be 100 or more, provide some insight into some of those secrets. Author Dan Buettner wrote an article for National Geographic…
Dear Reader, I look to the New Year with much enthusiasm. A new year, a fresh start, and a perfect time to discuss the state of modern manners. According to my absolute favorite Miss Manners the incomparable Judith Martin, we will “not let you off from sending letters of thanks, answering invitations, and refraining from…
By Patte Smith with information provided by Colorado State University Extension Colorado is experiencing a very dry year with little moisture. Winter months can be hard on trees, shrubs and perennial plants. The dry weather conditions the community is experiencing can damage root systems of plants and trees. To help prevent damage, plan to water…
Article and photos by Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Josh Pruitt, Ivywild Visuals This holiday season, Journey Church in Castle Pines empowered parents and guardians to be the true heroes of Christmas. Douglas County and local community families in a difficult situation this season were invited to shop the Christmas Store for their children’s gifts.…
By Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photo Domestic tranquility is alive and well in my home, at least until my wife, Barb, and I get into pantry war games. Then we become, well, low-level combatants. She wants freshness and safety; I’m the Grinch. I don’t like throwing anything away. The trigger came last month when my daughter…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett I’m on a roll. I’m in the zone. I’m eating to live, not living to eat. These are all the things I tell myself when the New Year rolls around. It’s time to get things back on track, to right the ship, to square things away. Only this year,…
By Bryan Goodland; courtesy photo As winter weather and snow begins to roll in, the thought of dining outside doesn’t sound very appetizing. Area restaurants have come up with some solutions to this conundrum. Since indoor dining is limited or not available in many areas, restaurants have started to think outside the box, or in…
By Elizabeth Wood West As Coloradans approach the one-year mark of living with COVID-19 and executive health orders, some disturbing numbers are showing how hard the restaurant industry has been hit in 2020. According to Restaurant Newswire, nearly half of new Colorado unemployment benefit claims that were filed the week that indoor dining was banned…
Cookie Clocks Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Ingredients: 6 ounces white molding chocolate 12 chocolate sandwich cookies (such as Oreo) Tube of prepared white decorator icing 3 ounces black fondant Round white cake decorating sprinkles Edible glitter (optional) Directions: Melt white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, heating at 30 second intervals, then stirring, until…
By Patte Smith with information provided by the Colorado Bar Association Individuals, no matter the age, may benefit from having a living will and an advance medical directive. These legal documents are written instructions stating a person’s preference for medical care if someone is unable to make a decision for him/herself. In Colorado, a Declaration…
By Elizabeth Wood West Business owners and managers have a set of metrics that they use when hiring workers. How important to them is age when looking at a potential new hire? Depending on the position a business is looking to fill, it may already have a preconceived age range in mind. For example, if…
Information provided by Harvard Medical School and the Mayo Clinic “I believe that water is the only drink for a wise man.” – Henry David Thoreau An adult human brain contains about 60% water, and to keep the brain healthy, individuals need to keep it hydrated. The adage of drinking eight glasses of water a…
By Chris Michlewicz; photo courtesy of Leslie Ludolph Leslie Ludolph looked forward to golfing on the lush, hallowed grounds of Pinehurst golf course in North Carolina last year. Like many others, her trip to the regular PGA Tour stop was canceled due to the coronavirus, but the plans are only temporarily on pause. Ludolph and…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Angela Carlson “Follow your passion” is a phrase commonly used when looking to pursue something new in life. Growing up with entrepreneurial parents, resident of The Village at Castle Pines, Angela Carlson has always stayed curious and explored things that sparked her passion. Previously a neonatal nurse practitioner, Angela…
By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of Jane Lenz This month, Jane Lenz celebrates 30 years with the Douglas County School District (DCSD). A Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) teacher of 15 years, Lenz opened TTE’s Significant Support Needs (SSN) program in 2007. “Where hearts and minds connect,” is more than just a phrase on the walls…
By Steve Whitlock; photos courtesy of Holley Ferrel Two girls in the Castle Pines area have made a big difference sewing masks and donating them to those in need. Annabelle Martin and Brooke Ferrel have sewn more than 500 masks together. Annabelle says, “We were given an opportunity to make them for Operation We Can…
By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of the Grant family This January 1, head outside to get some exercise and enjoy the beauty of nature. First Day Hikes are held throughout the country and at participating Colorado state parks. Visitors can take self-guided tours on the trails in the parks. Some of the parks offer fun…
By Shaun Kernahan; photos courtesy of the Jones family The biggest hurdle in the life of a 14-year-old should be transitioning to high school, but for Ashley Jones, it was the biggest and most impactful year she had ever encountered. It started one evening when she was at a neighbor’s house babysitting. It wasn’t until…
By Chris Michlewicz With some fitness centers currently limiting capacity due to restrictions, millions of people are looking for ways to exercise at home. Fortunately, there have never been more do-it-yourself options to stay or get fit. The new year brings with it resolutions to exercise more, and whether there is follow-through depends on many…
By Julie Matuszewski: photos courtesy of Briea Berry The sound of the holidays was alive in the Glen Oaks neighborhood of Castle Pines. A group of talented students from Timber Trail Elementary and Rocky Heights Middle School produced and performed a 20-minute outdoor holiday performance for their families, neighbors and their instructor, Douglas County band…
Information and photo provided by American Academy Students Westley Green, Louise Green and Kiera Meyer all love to sing and participate in school plays. This year, the American Academy Castle Pines campus held a musical-themed holiday door decorating contest. These talented Castle Pines students wrote and performed their rendition of The 12 Days of COVID.…
Article and photos by Celeste McNeil Fourth graders at Buffalo Ridge Elementary traditionally invite parents into the classroom to showcase their research skills and knowledge of Colorado history. As with everything else this year, the showcase looked a little different than in the past. This year the showcase was completely virtual. Students learned broadly about…
By Brett Wiebold; courtesy photos In the age of Teslas and Zoom meetings, it’s difficult to picture a world moving at a snail’s pace. Bandwidth limitations are infuriating by modern standards, and who doesn’t feel a pang of annoyance when it takes more than a few seconds to download an email? Not so long ago,…
Could it pass through Douglas County? Article and photo by Chris Michlewicz A proposal to bring passenger rail service through Douglas County as part of a larger Front Range transit effort could be gaining steam. The State of Colorado’s Southwest Chief & Front Range Passenger Rail Commission is looking at three possible routes to connect…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; chart provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment According to a public health order issued by Governor Polis, Douglas County moved to the level red category (severe risk) on the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s (CDPHE) COVID-19 dial effective November 20. The six colors indicated on…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard This holiday season will likely see more online shopping, which means anyone looking to send holiday gifts and greetings should get their packages and cards sent early. For residents looking for close shipping options, the Castle Pines community offers two choices – United States Postal Service (USPS) and United Parcel Service,…