Read the stories from the latest issue:
Thanksgiving desserts that are pie perfect Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Whoever coined the phrase “easy as pie” was a liar. Pie, which in my opinion is one of the top five desserts ever invented, is anything but easy to make. I should know, as I’ve spent months of my life working to perfect…
Trendy and Tasty – A winning formula for Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse By Chris Michlewicz A trendy downtown Castle Rock eatery with an eclectic menu and a laid-back vibe has quickly built a regional following, and all it takes is just a taste to see why. Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse, on the northwest…
Article and photo by Lisa Nicklanovich Seasoning blends add so much flavor to dishes that it is hard to imagine chili or tacos without them. A simple meal with chicken, beef, fish or roasted or grilled veggies can be elevated to deliciousness with a seasoning mix. Sometimes it is tricky to know which spices blend…
By Hollen Wheeler; courtesy photo Residents at Legacy Village of Castle Pines hosted a bingo tournament over the summer for fun and fellowship, but mostly for a worthy cause. Held in July, “Bingo Bonanza” raised more than $2,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association “Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” which took place on September 18 at City Park,…
Information and photo provided by Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is expanding online services which is allowing the DMV to bring even more essential services to Coloradans wherever they are. Part of that expansion is empowering seniors to renew their driver licenses online. With the implementation of the Driver’s…
Article and photo by Lisa Nicklanovich Author and Castle Pines resident Justin Matott writes for all ages weaving themes of empathy, kindness, humor, silliness, understanding and creativity through his more than 30 published books. After his first book My Garden Visits, which he wrote as a personal journal as he was processing the passing of…
By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Lucrecia Floyd The Floyd family loves adventure and helping others. Lucrecia is originally from Mexico City and Ken is originally from New Orleans; they met in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Lucrecia was working and Ken was traveling when a rainstorm brought them together. A long-distance romance of love letters through…
By Nancy Koontz; photos courtesy of Jim Huffman The refreshingly candid Jim Huffman has had an impressive journey throughout his professional and personal life. With his strong work ethic and boundless energy, it doesn’t appear that Huffman has slowed down at any point, even in retirement. Raised in Chicago, Huffman first came to Colorado to…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Terra Shaffner Terra Shaffner has education in her blood. Her mother and grandmother were both teachers. As a child, when she had a break in her own school, she went with them to theirs. She loved to visit their classrooms. Shaffner grew up in the shadow of South Dakota’s…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Josh Trent Madeline Trent aims high. The Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) fourth grader enjoys all the typical activities 9 year olds do. Like many girls, Madeline enjoys gymnastics, but unlike most, she practices 18 hours a week. She is part of the USA Gymnastics development program, previously called the…
Article and photo by Mindy Stone Article and photo by Mindy Stone Castle Pines residents do not have to go far to get a vaccine. A mass vaccination clinic is conveniently located in the former Castle Pines Safeway building at 560 Castle Pines Parkway. The clinic offers COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 booster shots, and the flu…
By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Village Idiots Cycling Club The Village Idiots Cycling Club’s (VICC) October bike drive was a success, as individuals from the community dropped off bicycles to Cielo at Castle Pines. “VICC is grateful to Roz Schroeder from Cielo for allowing us to use their facility,” noted Bill Pieseski, community committee…
By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Bill Pieseski Members of the Village Idiots Cycling Club (VICC) met for the Club’s semi-annual cleanup of a section of road on the South Havana frontage road. The Club joined the Douglas County Adopt-A-Highway program several years ago and continues to do its part to keep Colorado beautiful, especially…
By Mindy Stone; courtesy photo Sophia Persichitte has a passion for cooking and dreams of opening a restaurant. She is in her second year of ProStart Culinary arts at ThunderRidge High School, even though she is a senior at Rock Canyon High School. “When I heard about it [the program], I was nervous to go…
Information provided by Douglas County School District High schools throughout the Douglas County School District (DCSD) offer a varying assortment of Advanced Placement (AP) courses across a multitude of subjects. Students were able to earn either the AP Capstone Diploma or the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. The Castle Pines community is home to 10…
By Claire Bauer, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photo As October wrapped up, so did the 14th Annual National Teen Driver Safety Week. It is a week that highlights safe driving habits and encourages awareness of teenage drivers on the roads. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the leading cause of death in teens ages…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Jessica Petau Buster delivers safety message “seat to seat and back to back” Buster the Bus traveled his way to the preschool and kindergarten students at Timber Trail Elementary. This in-school field trip, hosted by Douglas County School District (DCSD) Transportation Department, delivered students bus safety information in a…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard with information from ColoradoGives Kids for ColoradoGives, a family-friendly online giving program that falls under the Community First Foundation umbrella is now in its fifth year. The organization offers opportunities for kids along with their families to become the next generation of givers through teaching philanthropy and helping the more than…
Article and photo by Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Tim Ryckman Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) spent the first quarter of the school year preparing and then participating in a fun run fundraiser. BRE physical education teacher Coach Kelli Weinreich sponsored a weekly before-school run club for any student and staff who wanted to participate. Runners…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori For more than a decade, the DCS Montessori upper elementary staff have partnered with YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park for a week of outdoor education and adventure. Team building, ropes courses, hiking and games like capture the flag were designed with the intent to bring…
By Celeste McNeil Parents at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) are volunteering in new ways this year – they are helping in the cafeteria with the lunch service. Typically, middle schools require less parent involvement and volunteer opportunities than elementary schools. Teachers don’t ask for parents to come help with classroom chores like filing, or…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Chris Todd Latin American Sea Turtles (LAST) Association is a nonprofit organization that strives to create environments where humans and sea turtles can live together in balance. Eighth grade students from all three American Academy (AA) campuses traveled to the Osa Peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica to support local…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Jessie Kenny Each year the students of Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) show their school spirit with an active fundraiser designed to support TTE’s classrooms. This year proceeds went to purchase Chromebooks and math books, as well as help fund professional development for staff and teachers and other special curriculum…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Brian Delasantos Captain Brian Delasantos grew up a mile from the local volunteer fire station in Sebastopol, California. That proximity created curiosity, which led Delasantos to join the firefighters Explorer program while in high school. Delasantos moved beyond the Explorers after a couple of years, joining the volunteer force…
By Chris Michlewicz; photo courtesy of Dana Giddens In late September, when pickup trucks started hauling away scrub oak near Daniels Park’s shared boundary with the Amber Ridge neighborhood on the west border of the City of Castle Pines, nearby residents started asking questions. According to a spokesperson for Xcel Energy, “The [Castle Pines North]…
Information and graphics provided by the City of Castle Pines The City of Castle Pines began a full reconstruction of Castle Pines Parkway, one of the main arteries connecting residents and visitors to the City in June. The first half-mile section between Monarch Boulevard and Yorkshire Drive is anticipated to be complete in December. This…
Information provided by Douglas County The more than 275,000 registered Douglas County voters can anticipate ballots for the November 2 election to arrive by mail the week of October 11. Residents can register to vote, check voter registration status, update mailing address, confirm party affiliation status, as well as view a sample ballot and learn…
By Carin Kirdegaard; photo by Terri Wiebold Political elections generally don’t fit the “a little good news” sentiment that our readers are accustomed to, but that is exactly the case for the City of Castle Pines elections taking place on November 2. Of the four vacancies for city council positions, three have at least two…
A get it done attitude leads to a successful career By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Tobi Duffey For most residents, election season begins when temperatures drop, candidate signs start appearing staked in yards, and election ads run during commercial time-outs of the Denver Broncos game. For the City of Castle Pines City Clerk…
Information provided by Douglas County Human Services; courtesy photos Families, individuals and seniors who need heating assistance for the winter months in Colorado may qualify for the Colorado Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). The program runs from November 1 through April 30 of every year. The Douglas County LEAP program is administered by the Colorado…
By Patte Smith The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is holding National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 23, to provide a safe and convenient way for citizens to dispose of prescription drugs that are no longer needed. At the last Take Back Day in October 2020, more than 4,500 sites across the nation…
By Chris Michlewicz There is something simple that residents in the City of Castle Pines can do to make sure the money they spend on sales tax goes back into their community. The proliferation of online sales, while convenient, has somewhat muddied the financial waters for online sales tax revenue collection. Although the issue is not…
Information and photo provided by South Metro Fire Rescue Bell service for South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) Firefighter Paramedic Anthony “Tony” Palato rang out at Castle Pines Fire Station 36 on September 15, signifying the last call for a brave servant in the community. Palato began his career with Sheridan Fire Department and later joined…
The Castle Pines Connection welcomes Mindy Stone to our writing team. With a passion for writing dating back to high school, Mindy was an editor at her school newspaper. She then followed in her father’s footsteps and graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Mindy started her television career in…
By Terri Wiebold OFFICE MANAGER: The Castle Pines Connection is looking for a creative and organized individual to join our team in an office manager-type capacity. The super flexible position would involve responsibilities like scheduling and running monthly staff meetings, responding to email inquiries, planning team building/philanthropy projects, coordinating community contests, creating gifts for our…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; courtesy photos The Fifth Annual 9/11 Eat for a Cause community fundraiser was held at Pino’s Italian Kitchen & Bar. More than $10,000 was raised from a percentage of proceeds of restaurant sales from both Pino’s and Berg Haus, as well as donations from a silent auction and wine pull. The evening…
By Mindy Stone; photos courtesy of Jon Sierk For 15 years, Dr. Jon Sierk has been providing dental care for children of all ages in Highlands Ranch. Some of his patients live in surroundings areas, so he recently expanded his practice, Sierk Children’s Dentistry, to Castle Pines. “I really enjoy the area, the people, and…
Letter to members provided by CORE; photos by Terri Wiebold E Earlier this year, our employees set a goal of making our organization the premier electric utility in Colorado. I’d like to welcome you to the next step in our journey toward that goal: CORE Electric Cooperative. Since 1938, this cooperative has provided reliable, affordable…
Article and photo by Joe Gschwendtner History Colorado recognizes ranches and farms operated by the same family for over a century. Eight properties in Douglas County have received the coveted Colorado Centennial Farms & Ranches award. Though ownership recently changed, the family continuity of the Winkler Ranch was 55 years greater than then its nearest…
By Patte Smith Purchasing holiday tree cutting permits for Colorado state ranger districts has changed over the years. The ranger districts that are close to the Front Range now encourage the public to visit https://www.recreation.gov/tree-permits/ to order 2021 cutting permits to purchase a permit. The South Platte Ranger District and the South Park Ranger District…
By Hollen Wheeler Africa is commonly referred to as the forgotten continent. Nigerian author Abi Daré underscores in her debut novel, The Girl with the Louding Voice, that modern day Nigeria is no exception. Adunni is the child protagonist who narrates her story with broken English throughout the book. Despite her hardships, her hope for…
By Patte Smith; photo by Terri Wiebold Pets are very special to all who own them. Buddies for life, these incredible animals bring joy and laughter to any home. Playing fetch with a dog in the backyard and cuddling a cat are great ways to show these furry companions an owner’s love. Another way is…
By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of Michelle Post Black cats have long served as objects of superstition. In Medieval France and Spain, black cats were considered bearers of bad luck and curses to any human they came near. They were commonly associated with witchcraft, while Medieval Germans believed themselves to be cursed if a black…
Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner My wife, Barb, and I just returned from Taos, New Mexico. A captivating and photogenic mecca, it is the same place New York elite artists, Bert Phillips and Ernest Blumenschein uncovered a century ago. The society of artists and their story is essential to understand if one is to…
Article and photos by Hollen Wheeler Just north of the University of Denver is the South Pearl Street district, a charming little city escape. Eighteen tree-lined blocks with Victorian homes, boutiques, art galleries, gift shops, book stores, and of course, fine dining make South Pearl Street an outing worth a look. Flanked by “South Pearl…
Dear Readers, Let’s talk about the art and etiquette of the invitation. I naturally get excited about parties, whether I’m throwing one or attending one and the invitation is the natural starting point. Creating an invitation and responding to an invitation require thought and exactitude, whether it’s a formal invite or a casual one. The…
By Stacie Chadwick In 1992, I was young and living in Chicago, a place so cold in the winter that the biting, frigid wind would cut you in half before you’d barely taken a step. It was on that kind of night, having worked late and in a hurry, that I jumped into my car…
By Terri Wiebold; photos courtesy of Jimmy’s Photography The Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) recently gathered at picturesque Cherokee Ranch & Castle to introduce its new executive director, Mike Waid. Waid joins a powerhouse board of directors, let by Chairman Justin Vaughn, committed to helping Douglas County nonprofits and providing financial assistance when they need…
By Patte Smith; courtesy photo There are many close to home Halloween celebrations and festivals this year, so get the costumes ready, carve a pumpkin, and brew up some potions. With fall in the air, festivals, foolery, and fun abounds – mixed in with a little fright. Enjoy the Castle Pines Fall Festival in the…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of Yvonne Bailey We introduced readers to super-mom and creative fitness guru Yvonne Bailey in May 2018 and happened across her again last week. No surprise, she is still flying high with ideas. With her son, Chase (5), in school, Bailey has lost no time in moving into a new…
Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Food that looks beautiful is somehow extra satisfying, a feast for the senses that starts even before I open my mouth. Sushi is at the top of my list of beautiful foods, especially sushi rolls, bordered in perfect rice and framed with seaweed. There is something so lovely and…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Donna Benedict Neighbors pulled out their best family recipes for the 12th Annual Turweston Lane Chili Cook Off. More than 70 people gathered in the cul-de-sac to join in the fun. The best chili bragging rights went to the Barbier family who took first place. The Sharon family…
By Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos Can it be possible to catch one’s second wind as a nonagenarian? Meet Velva Bains, turned 98 last month. But you’d never know it. Spry and almost effervescent, age has not dimmed her many beautiful memories. Then there is that twinkle in her eye; it’s compelling. When she talks, one…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard The health insurance industry is arguably one of the biggest in the U.S., and Medicare falls under that umbrella. Throughout the next few months, the evening news and mailboxes will be inundated with commercials and flyers from private insurance companies touting the benefits for a particular supplemental Medicare plan in anticipation…
By Hollen Wheeler; courtesy photos Although Megan Mathis is a local, her work and passion are 9,000 miles away. She is co-founder of RiseUp Malawi (RUM), and her organization is making small but significant differences in the land-locked, southeast African country of Malawi. The average Malawian lives on less than $2 a day. For the…
By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of Tony Greene “The best thing about teaching is the connections I make with my kids,” said Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) math teacher, Tony Greene. “I really believe it is not the content that is taught by the teacher but the connections the teacher makes with their students.” Greene…
By Chris Michlewicz; photo courtesy of the Baudier family Jeff Baudier spent almost the entirety of his life in Louisiana, but the possibility of picking up and moving to Colorado was always there. Baudier (pronounced “bo-dee-ay”) had visited the Denver area for business on several occasions and was taken in by the active lifestyle and…
By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of Ken Tankersley Fifteen years ago, Shannon and Ken Tankersley’s family relocated from the Washington Park area of Denver to Castle Pines. The tight-knit clan enjoys life to the fullest and truly loves living in Colorado. “We can’t imagine living anywhere else,” notes Ken. “Castle Pines is a blend of…
a perfect season By Shaun Kernahan; courtesy photos After successfully getting through league play with a perfect 6-0 record, the Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) eighth grade girls volleyball team headed to Castle Rock Middle School on September 11 as the number one seed in the district tournament. They started off the morning by knocking…
By Patte Smith; courtesy photo Autumn is here, and families, friends and neighbors are starting to plan for an outing to a pumpkin patch, a scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner, and happy holiday fun when December arrives. What do these events have in common? Pumpkin. Whether harvesting seeds to roast from a pumpkin, baking a pumpkin pie…
By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Mike Myers Mike Myers, The Village at Castle Pines resident and former 14-year MLB left-handed pitcher, was golfing with his friend Don Beck on a Thursday morning in August 2019 at The Country Club at Castle Pines. Beck made a comment about how lucky they were to be able…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard From local pharmacies to convenient drive-up sites, anyone looking to get a free COVID-19 test has multiple options in Douglas County. The Walgreens located in the City of Castle Pines at Lagae Road offers free tests for anyone experiencing symptoms or who has been exposed to COVID-19. A photo ID will…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard On Election Day, Tuesday November 2, Douglas County voters will choose four Douglas County School District (DCSD) school board candidates in the general election. All registered voters will receive their election ballots in the mail sometime the week of October 11. (See related story on page 4 and 5 for more…
By Mindy Stone What’s for lunch? Students ask this question daily. This school year, parents don’t need to stress about packing their child’s lunch or even putting money in their school account to buy it. Douglas County School District (DCSD), like school districts nationwide, continues to serve free meals for all students during the 2021-2022…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Joe Schneiderwind Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) math teacher, Joe Schneiderwind, has always loved math and science. After graduating from Douglas County High School (DCHS), Schneiderwind moved to Golden, where he completed an undergraduate degree in engineering physics and a master’s degree in applied mathematics from Colorado School of…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Tim Ryckman Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) again held a decades-long family favorite community event this year, the back-to-school carnival. The carnival is a nod to summer fun as the school year gets underway. Students reunite with friends and burn lots of energy running between events, contests and stations while…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori According to the Montessori philosophy, adolescents need to begin establishing their independence as they learn to get along with one another while feeling acceptance from their peers. Away from home and their regular routines, DCS Montessori (DCSM) middle school students spent four days and three nights together…