Read the stories from the latest issue:
Special thanks to whomever turned this “Charlie Brown” Christmas tree into a beacon of hope and celebration for the community. Located on a trail by Daniel’s Gate Park when walking from Castle Pines Parkway, the package encouraged passers-by to stop and fill out a (provided) card and state what they were thankful for. Information and…
Sarah Phillips, 22-year resident of Castle Pines, held her 8th annual toy drive on December 5, benefiting the Help & Hope Center. Each year, the gathering collects more than 200 toys to donate to the Santa Sharing program. “This year the Help & Hope Center was especially appreciative, as they are the busiest they have…
Douglas County Living magazine hosted its annual fundraiser collecting toys and donations for Toys for Tots. Held at Cielo at Castle Pines, each guest brought an unwrapped gift and enjoyed an evening of holiday music and dinner. The Marine Corps Color Guard accepted the contributions on behalf of Toys for Tots. Article and photos by…
Dear Readers, Putting the holidays and 2022 behind us, I hope you were generous with your hairdresser, your manicurist, your trash and recycle delivery people, your babysitter and anyone else from whom you receive regular services. Giving those extra gifts should go without saying. But what is this new default? Do you feel you’re…
At 6,368 feet, Daniels Park sits more than a thousand feet above the Mile High City. The Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and is said to be the site of 19th-century pioneer Kit Carson’s last campfire. Caption and drone photo by Bear Rothe
I nearly always ring in the new year with a take-out carton in my hand. Some years I do burgers or pizza, but most of the time, I gather friends and loved ones and test out my chopstick skills while watching the ball drop over Times Square (don’t be jealous – not everyone can be…
Life isn’t always fair. Sometimes it’s downright nasty. Perhaps our 21st-century children grumble a bit. Tell them about Miriam Fonder. Born a Donegan in 1835 in Ohio, Miriam and her family moved to the wilderness that was Burlington, Iowa before her first birthday. Several years later she suffered a grotesquely disfiguring burn at the family…
In December, The Connection sat down with Larry Schlupp and Tim Weber and reviewed their newly-published history compendium, Douglas County Colorado: Prehistory to 2020. Having nibbled at the edges of this part of Colorado history for a decade in our Wildcat Lore segment and deeming it grossly fragmented, for the first time, a book compiled…
Winter can be a difficult time for many who miss the sunshine, have seasonal depression or just long for warmer days on the deck. For people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, it adds to their challenges. The days are shorter, the nights are longer and the weather is colder. Experts say they have a hard…
In December, the staff of The Castle Pines Connection volunteered by gift wrapping presents for the residents of Legacy Village to give to their friends and families. One resident summed it up by saying, “You all are such a blessing! I go to my family’s house every year for Christmas, and it always makes me…
Nicole Giampietro moved from Long Island to Castle Pines when she was 9 years old along with her parents and older brother, setting the stage for all things outdoorsy and plenty of adventures. The hills in New York were no comparison to the Rocky Mountains. Giampietro was fortunate to have great neighbors and friends. She…
Not many can say that they were born and raised in Silicon Valley, California before it became the tech juggernaut that it is today. Chris Janssen can. She was born and raised in Santa Clara County and her parents’ work ethic paved the path for her success today as a wife, mother, life coach and…
Healing practitioners using sound therapy and guided meditations often use singing bowls to deepen meditation and promote relaxation. It is an ancient practice, but with recent research showing the benefits of sound therapy, it is being used more often as a complementary treatment for many physiological and mental health conditions. Singing bowls are made out…
TJ Stark is still fast. Last April, the Rocky Heights Middle School seventh grader won first place in the POWRi Quarter Midget Nationals at the Phoenix Raceway. In November, the 13-year-old won again at the A-Main Winter Nationals, the ½ division, in Las Vegas. Over the four-day contest, Stark raced against 304 cars, the most…
Kids in Castle Pines wrapped up the fall season of flag football with Castle Pines Athletics on October 13 at Elk Ridge Park. Here are the Super Bowl winners by age group: Information and photos provided by Castle Pines Athletics
Douglas County School District (DCSD) takes the safety of its students, staff, parents and community members seriously. The district is huge, spanning 850+ square miles, and conditions can vary from one region to another. Because many families and staff travel across the school district, any weather delay or closure will apply to the entire school…
Rock Canyon High School has a Fire Science Program (FSP), one of the few in the greater Denver area. Students who enroll are required to attend three classes over a one-year period, and after completion, they earn nine college credit hours through Red Rocks Community College as well as a Basic Life Support certification. The…
Next month, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) junior and varsity cheerleader, Jaidyn Shirley, will head to Atlanta to be honored as one of Nfinity Athletic Corporation’s All-American top-20 finalists. After being named a semi-finalist from thousands of applicants from across the country, Shirley had to complete another application and submit four videos highlighting her personality…
The 76 second grade students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) recently participated in the annual Pay it Forward program. Students did extra chores at home and then donated their profits to three families adopted through Catholic Charities of Central Colorado’s Christmas Giving Tree. The three second grade classes adopted one family per classroom, providing gifts…
In honor of “National Hot Cocoa Day,” the parent-teacher organization at Timber Trail Elementary invited the students to share in a celebration with Legacy Village of Castle Pines on December 13. Students joined the residents for cookies, hot cocoa, and a special visit from Santa. The residents were thrilled to visit, play games, and share the…
A group known as The Original Dickens Carolers delivered holiday cheer to all three American Academy campus second grade classes. Dressed in Victorian-era costumes, the blended four-part harmony quartet performed a seven-minute short story, The Christmas Carol, followed by a sing-along of traditional Christmas carols including Twelve Days of Christmas and Jingle Bells. The group…
Bethany Joswick wanted to teach her children, Kate and Jack, the importance of giving back over the holidays. She contacted The Salvation Army, and the organization sent aprons and bells to the King Soopers on Lagae Road for the Joswicks to participate. The children rang the bells and collected donations. Ashley Jubenville and her children…
Seventh grade STEM students from the three American Academy (AA) campuses applied the technical skills and engineering knowledge learned throughout the trimester to create functioning “animal” robots. In teams of four, the students presented their final projects to professional software developers and coders at AA’s annual STEMApalooza held in November 2022 at the campus in…
A legend in the baking The baked goods created at the Sedalia Bakery are the confections of legend. Just ask anyone within a 10-mile radius. It was eight years ago that the little shop opened just off Sedalia’s main drag and next to the train tracks. However, it was well before that when people…
The City of Castle Pines wouldn’t quite be what it is today without the dedicated involvement of longtime residents Eva Mitchell and Dick Lichtenheld. The married couple moved to the community in 1996 and quickly became a public-service powerhouse, serving on numerous boards and committees, including the ones that helped incorporate what was then known…
Since its inception in 2010, the Castle Pines Planning Commission has been busy maintaining the je ne sais quoi that makes Castle Pines so special. It recently challenged a business coming to Castle Pines to “do better” and change the aesthetic of a new car wash to better match the look and feel of the…
Holley Ferrel and Karen Huber wanted to do something in the community for veterans. They partnered with the City of Castle Pines to host a flag ceremony at Elk Ridge Park on November 12. The local Boy Scout troop handed out programs to approximately 100 attendees. Council member and veteran Kevin Rants was the emcee…
Major construction on Castle Pines Parkway wrapped up on November 19. According to the City of Castle Pines, the construction project will improve safety and traffic operations, expand the City’s major thoroughfare, fix long-standing drainage issues, and add larger bicycle lanes on both sides of the roadway. Article and photos by Bear Rothe
The City of Castle Pines conducted its 2022 Community Survey, with residents able to participate online from September 21 to October 4. Of the 12,298 residents in Castle Pines, 907 participated in the community survey – for a participation rate of approximately 7.3%. Compare that to the 751 residents of Castle Rock who participated in…
Tammy Bozarth spent her childhood at the police station. So, it’s fitting that she chose a career in law enforcement. “When my sisters went to school, I went to the Manitou Springs Police Department with my mom,” Bozarth remembered. “When she hit the streets, I played at the station until the end of her shift.”…
The Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD) hosted two community meetings to discuss future plans for features and a location of a potential new skatepark to replace the one recently demolished to make way for new pickleball courts. However, the meetings may have been premature, as the City of Castle Pines – with input from…
Spending three hours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has become a welcome weekly occurrence. This session would not be dull nor disappoint. Lieutenant Joel White, a former member of the DCSO Bomb Squad who was recently promoted to the Investigations Unit, led the class. The Bomb Squad is…
Historically, Douglas County has seen a low percentage of homelessness. With housing insecurity on the rise, no full-time shelters and little services available that larger cities already have in place, Douglas County created the Douglas County Homeless Initiative (DCHI). County Commissioner and chairman of the DCHI board, Abe Laydon, said the goal of the initiative…
A 23-year resident of Castle Pines, Mary Barnes is married with three kids, ranging in age from 13 to 30 and has a 15-year-old cat named Jack. She is the executive director of the Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra (LTSO) and a cello player, but her path did not always include music and the arts. Originally…
80108 Wine & Spirits Advanced Integrative Medicine Angie’s Restaurant AriClean Aspen Tide Design & Staging Audrey Will – LIV Sotheby’s Bandimere Speedway Beau Thai II Bellco Credit Union Berg Haus Big O Tires Black + Haus Tavern Blue Island Oyster Bar and Seafood Boondocks Food & Fun Boy Scout Troop #316 Brandon Linn Orthodontics Broadway…
With loving parents, an outgoing twin sister, an always full house of dogs, and oodles of built-in friends and second families on Cerney Circle, Ryan Wight grew up surrounded by all things good. He moved to Castle Pines at the ripe age of 3. Wight recalled lining up behind the firetrucks with his decorated bike…
Douglas County Community Foundation is seeking volunteers to help further its mission to responsibly manage philanthropic contributions, maintain agile funds for emergencies, inspire generosity and provide support to local nonprofits serving the needs within our community. Although the nonprofit has been around nearly two decades, its restructuring in 2021 injected new energy into the organization,…
Local nonprofit organization Hide In Plain Sight (HIPS) began seven years ago, led by Joe Roos. Since then, the nonprofit has served the mission of providing scholarships to homeless and impoverished young adults to achieve a post-secondary education. Roos retired as executive director at the end of October, and HIPS employees, board members and volunteers…
Who doesn’t like getting a package in the mail – the instant happiness from tearing into the box, unfolding the flaps and uncovering the goodies? Gifts and care packages always do the trick to make us feel thought of and loved. When Jennifer Rowe’s oldest daughter, Tessa, went away to CU Boulder in 2017, Jennifer…
Hanukkah is a festive, eight-day celebration that falls in November or December. This year, families across Colorado and throughout the world will celebrate the Jewish holiday starting at sundown on Sunday, December 18 and ending on Monday, December 26. Hanukkah traditions include lighting the menorah, playing dreidel and eating special holiday foods fried in oil…
My wife and I have spent a total of four months in Africa over 30 years: Egypt, the Seychelles, the Republic of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Our recent five-week trip was intense. Visiting the continent requires heightened savvy and willingness to tolerate some creature discomforts. However, it was enriching beyond expectations, as exotic wildlife…
December is a month filled with holiday celebrations and traditions. There is much to do in the greater Denver area (check out our December E Guide calendar), but here are a few more ideas: Tree lighting celebration at the Lone Tree Arts Center – On December 2, enjoy hot chocolate, s’mores and live entertainment for…
The Dumb Friends League Buddy Center, located in Castle Rock, celebrated 20 years of service on November 12. Brownie and Bandit, two dogs adopted from the Buddy Center, helped mark the occasion with a festive “ribbone” chomping, the dog version of “ribbon cutting.” Since its inception in 2002, the Buddy Center has provided adoptions, pet…
The Castle Pines Connection is excited to bring you the 10th Annual Cutest Pet in the Pines contest. For a decade, we have been celebrating your furry friends in the pages of The Connection, and we have again teamed up with some all-star businesses to bring it back again this year. Special thanks to Brekke…
Anyone who hikes the area gets it. In mid-spring, the Larkspur proliferates in Douglas County foothills. But what about the town so named? Let’s dig up some little-known facts brought out in a magnificent local tour conducted by Larry Schlupp in September. Before 1861, today’s Larkspur was in Kansas Territory. Being on East Plum Creek,…
Douglas County Community Foundation Inaugural Dia de los Muertos Event Sponsor Thank You! Photos provided by Douglas County Community Foundation
Dear Reader, We are living in a time of declining etiquette and breaches in personal boundaries. With the holidays upon us and our desire to behave, we should check ourselves. Old social codes were vigorous and strict. Today, those seem utterly outdated, but they did give us firm direction and a sense of privacy. The…
As the year draws to an end, we reflect on the good that surrounds us. In 2022, we featured eleven Angels Among Us stories, highlighting nonprofits that are using their voices and abilities to make incredible impacts in the community and beyond. Many thanks to each of these organizations for visiting with us and allowing…
Canyons Community Church 4825 N. Crowfoot Valley Road, Castle Rock www.canyonscc.org Hope Lives – A Christmas Service of Hope and Remembrance, December 17, 4 p.m. Christmas Eve: December 24, 4 p.m. Christmas Day – Give Back Sunday: December 25, 10:30 a.m. Castle Oaks Covenant Church 826 Park Street, Castle Rock www.castleoaks.org Christmas Eve: December 24,…
Hanukkah begins on December 18 this year, just a few days before the shortest day on the calendar – a joyful celebration of light during dark times. I don’t celebrate Hanukkah, but as a kid I spent quite a bit of time with friends who did, playing dreidel games to win chocolate coins and lighting…
Nothing is more important than family and friends, especially as the holidays approach. For Bill and Patty Shirley, another special date is coming: a 59th wedding anniversary. The Shirleys grew up in Colorado – Bill attended West High School and Patty, Lincoln High School. In the summer of 1963, fate stepped in. “Bill drove up…
Chihuahuas are loving, loyal to their families and have big personalities for such little dogs. A toy dog breed small enough to fit in a purse as well as a stocking, Pebbles was the best Christmas gift for Kimberly and Bob Borner’s 11-year-old twins, RJ and Scarlett last December. Four years ago, the Borners lost…
In late October, Castle Pines resident Scott Ferguson observed this beautiful buck making a new plastic friend in his next door neighbor’s front yard (on Brighton Court in the City of Castle Pines). After the buck was rejected by his new friend, he traveled to the backyard to sulk and check out the beautiful fall colors.…
The Calfees are a busy family of four to include work, school, volunteering and pets. Kristi was born and raised in Grand Junction and went to CSU where she earned a degree in public relations. After college, she worked for a start-up company in Boulder selling hurricane and earthquake insurance to small businesses across the…
Anna Allison Basketball, Arizona Christian University, AZ Coach Jessika Caldwell stated, “It is hard to really capture the amount of growth that I have seen in Anna, and I really am in awe of all the ways in which she has become the best version of herself. She has had to work and grow and…
RCHS girls varsity volleyball made it to the state finals for the first time in school history. The Jags fell short to undefeated Valor Christian High School, but are ranked #2 among 5A teams in the state of Colorado. “This is a talented group of ladies with such chemistry,” said Angela Hanson, girls varsity volleyball…
Making a point of looking for the positive things in life cultivates gratitude. Not only does gratitude help diffuse negative thought patterns and behaviors, it also activates many positive physical and mental health benefits. An ongoing practice of gratitude can create side effects such as appreciation, patience, empathy and humility, as well as create resilience…
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, THANK YOU to the Castle Pines community for joining together in support of additional funding for the Douglas County School District (DCSD). While the Mill Levy Override (5A) and Bond (5B) didn’t make it over the finish line this time (we were so close!), it was very encouraging to see…
DCS Montessori (DCSM) took part in honoring International Education Week (IEW). IEW is typically celebrated the week before Thanksgiving across the United States and in more than 100 other countries. This week is an opportunity for exchange students worldwide to share with their host communities their cultures and highlight the benefits of international educational exchange…
It’s already time to think about kindergarten registration for the 2023-24 school year. Each of the neighborhood schools has a slightly different process for enrollment: American Academy – American Academy’s enrollment lottery will take place on Monday, December 5 for all three Douglas County campuses. To be included in the lottery, parents can sign up…
American Academy students celebrated veterans and their families with a breakfast and an assembly. The students gifted custom T-shirts to each vet. During the dedication, Boy Scouts who are students presented the colors. Kindergarten teacher Jordan Stifle led the choir in the national anthem and then sang a solo of “America the Beautiful,” bringing the…
A team of seventh graders at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) honored veterans this year. The students, part of the Expeditioner pod, created an honor wall and wrote letters to veterans, which will be distributed through Operation Gratitude, a nationwide nonprofit that helps citizens say thank you to U.S. armed forces with “hands-on volunteerism.” Teachers…
Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) hosted and honored men and women who served in the military on Veterans Day, November 11. The idea for the special event developed at a meeting with several teachers and the principal, explained Kelli Weinreich, PE teacher, who spearheaded the event. “I shared what my school in North Carolina used to…
Marina Bonello is an active person who relishes exercise and movement. Highly educated, “Dr. B,” as she is known to her students, is the new PE teacher at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE). Originally from Malta, the island south of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, Bonello was named appropriately (Marina means “by the sea”). She spent…
Timber Trail Elementary first grade students shared the Thanksgiving holiday spirit with the residents of Legacy Village of Castle Pines. The group enjoyed cookies, conversation and a singalong to “You Are My Sunshine.” The children read a short story, “Let’s Have Thanksgiving.” Each child represented a native American, pilgrim or turkey and the narrative included…
On October 28, first grade students at American Academy celebrated first responders on National First Responders Day (NFRD). The children shared breakfast, notes of thanks and heartfelt conversations with officers from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. NFRD recognizes the service and sacrifice of the nation’s EMS responders – dispatchers, firefighters, law enforcement officers and anyone…
Former military pilot John Sieber thought he would never have the opportunity to fly a T-28A Trojan again. After all, it had been more than 65 years since he last took flight in his favorite airplane. But then, through a mutual friend who owns a T-28A based out of Colorado Air and Space Port (formerly Front Range…
Douglas County could soon be on track for its third Costco Wholesale Corporation after the Castle Rock City Council voted to proceed with a $10 million infrastructure assistance package for one of the world’s largest retailers. A new Costco location, part of the anticipated Dawson Trails Planned Development Plan, would generate an estimated $4 – $6…
A plan to install a traffic signal at the three-way intersection of US 85 and Daniels Park Road has run into supply chain delays and a funding shortfall. In the past year, Douglas County has secured rights-of-way, completed infrastructure improvements and created preliminary plans for the signal. In August, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) took…