Read the stories from the latest issue:
Enjoying all that Colorado has to offer By Chris Michlewicz; photos courtesy of the Whalen family Few transplants have embraced the Colorado lifestyle as quickly and enthusiastically as Dave Whalen. By weekday, Whalen is the chief operating officer and general manager for the Country Club at Castle Pines. By weekend, he and his wife of…
By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos Castle Pines resident Shane Lapp, a strong supporter of law enforcement, first responders and the military, organized a Back the Blue event at Berg Haus in Castle Pines last month. The well-attended event honored Lieutenant Brian Murphy. Murphy is a former Oak Creek, Wisconsin police officer who was shot 17…
Article and photo by Terri Wiebold In the past few months with extra time at home, residents have had an opportunity to clean out garages and organize closets. For those looking for a place to donate the accumulation of items, the City of Castle Pines has a new resource ready to take the gently-used clothing…
Information and photos courtesy of Village Castle Pines Garden Club Yes Mr. Rogers, it was a beautiful day in The Village at Castle Pines neighborhood. The Village Castle Pines Garden Club’s (VCPGC) Drive-Through Event at the Summit Club last month brought neighbors together. The purpose was to welcome all 160 of their fantastic members with…
Manners are about doing the good thing, the right thing and the honorable thing. I’d like to dedicate this month’s column to all the men and women who have served honorably in our U.S. military. Veterans Day will be observed on Wednesday, November 11. I’d like to encourage our citizens to raise their U.S. flag…
By Steve Whitlock Are you looking for a way to give back this holiday season? Operation Christmas Child, collects shoebox gifts filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items and delivers them to children in need to demonstrate love in a tangible way. For some of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first…
Photos by Terri Wiebold and courtesy of Jan Comstock The perfect fall day was the backdrop for local artists to feature their wares at the second annual Autumn Art Walk in The Village at Castle Pines. To view a slideshow of the event, visit https://www.castlepinesconnection.com/photo-album-2020/.
By Chris Michlewicz Colorado’s 300 days of sunshine a year are not only great for outdoor activities, they are welcomed by homeowners who have solar panels on their roof. By the end of 2019, more than 2,900 customers of the Intermountain Rural Electric Association (IREA) had rooftop solar systems interconnected to its grid, generating more…
Last month, we featured a story about Ron Di Donato, a 72-year-old retired excavation company owner who used recycled copies of The Connection to create a flying papier-mâché pig as a means of slowing traffic. He has since added a Halloween witch’s hat and a mask to his creation. Our story caught the attention of…
Celebrate the holidays at several open-air markets By Patte Smith In downtown Denver, Skyline Park’s open-air Urban Holiday Market located at 16th and Arapahoe Street, is Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Get an early start for Christmas shopping strolling through the market full of arts and crafts,…
By Bryan Goodland; photos courtesy of Macy’s Whenever someone mentions Thanksgiving, family traditions immediately come to mind. Maybe your family gets up early to run in an annual Turkey Trot or they gather around the TV to watch the big game or maybe they tune into the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you…
By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of Kneaders Bakery Buffalo plaid is a term used to describe the pattern created when two colored yarns – traditionally red and black – are woven in stripes to create large intersecting blocks. The result is a third block of color that is the combination of the other two. Made…
By Julie Matuszewski On October 24, neighborhood children of all ages made their way through Castle Pines Parkway and The Village at Castle Pines Shops in search of favorite Halloween treats. Local business windows marked with a pumpkin guaranteed the visitors prepackaged treats and goodies from a safe distance. Businesses without a retail location also…
By Celeste McNeil; courtesy photos Throughout the month of October, HistoriCorps, a nonprofit that preserves historic structures on public lands has been working to reroof the Daniels Park Wellhouse, in addition to repairing the structure’s siding and rehabilitating its windows. Daniels Park is a Denver Mountain Park, listed on the National Register of Historic Places…
By Chris Michlewicz; photos courtesy of Project C.U.R.E. A nonprofit focused on getting used medical equipment and surplus supplies to healthcare facilities that need it most has the help of two Castle Pines women. Tammy Dawson and Amy F., both of whom work in the healthcare industry, have a combined 11 years of volunteering experience…
By Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos Near West Plum Creek’s headwaters, Sandstone Ranch’s story is rich and colorful, a stitched-together history of many pioneers. The earliest was Charles Richardson, an 1873 homesteader who claimed the first parcel. A year later, a bold woman for the times, Elizabeth Robinson of West Point, Illinois, homesteaded and became his…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy image Christmas movies get all the love. Thanksgiving movies tend to remind us how messy and dysfunctional families can be, or maybe joyful in comparison when we gather them around the table. For that sort of film, see Pieces of April, The Oath or Home for the Holidays – noting that…
Thanksgiving lessons By Steve Whitlock; courtesy photo If you’ve seen the 1987 film Planes, Trains and Automobiles, it likely increased your awareness and appreciation for the acting abilities of Steve Martin and John Candy. Their duo forms arguably one of the best comedy teams in modern film. Of course, it’s the writer, John Hughes, who…
An American original By Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos An unsullied hero is rare in these times. Unusual too, is a person who defined an era and culture simultaneously. William F. Cody was an egalitarian when civil rights were ignored or violated in a rush to settle new frontiers. If, as parents today, we seek antidotes…
Walk with nature: A hike through Sandstone Ranch Article and photo by Julie Matuszewski; courtesy photo Father of the mountains John Muir once said, “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” Muir was right; being in the outdoors improves one’s memory, reduces anxiety and helps with creativity. Walking with nature…
By Lynn Zahorik, photos courtesy of Brittany Arellano The ‘awww’ factor was in full force when Operation Secondhand Paws (OSP) teamed up with Farmers Insurance Silverhart Agency to host a pet adoption event in early October. The nonprofit rescue agency brought two litters of puppies and one litter of kittens that were available for adoption…
By Lynn Zahorik, courtesy photos As more time is spent at home during the coronavirus pandemic, many people have decided to add a furry new member to the family. They are turning to animals for emotional support and companionship to counteract the challenges of social distancing, working from home and remote learning. Since March, a…
By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Julie Lamb The question of whether the Daniels Park herd is a herd of buffalo or a herd of bison is a common one. For the record, they are bison. There are two types of buffalo: Cape buffalo and water buffalo. They are native to Africa and Asia. Bison…
Article and photo by Kathy Fallert November is National Senior Pet Month. Regular readers of this column know my three dogs, 2-year-old Otis, 9-year-old Tebow and my senior Sadie who is 12. I understand very well the different needs of an aging pet. Sadie has always been a hard-core athlete. Her stamina could outlast the…
By Patte Smith Help & Hope Center and Crisis Center are two organizations within Douglas County that provide vital services for community members in need throughout the year, especially during the holidays. This year, many are struggling to make ends meet due to the stress of isolation, medical issues, increasing food prices and the impact…
By Lisa Nicklanovich National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is held each year, the week before Thanksgiving. Participating groups in the annual event spend the week holding a series of educational, service, fundraising and advocacy events. Even in the world’s greatest food-producing nation, children and adults face poverty, hunger and experience homelessness in every county…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Nash Bochner When Nash Bochner inherited 15 plants from a friend who was moving out of state, he looked at them all and asked himself, “How do I keep these alive?” Bochner had never owned a plant before. Caring for these plants sparked an interest that led Bochner to…
Article and photos by Terri Wiebold Tia Baker and her husband, Bryce, grew up in Douglas County and recently moved back to Colorado after having spent 10 years in Washington. They moved into The Canyons development in the City of Castle Pines in August, just in time to reacclimate and prepare for the arrival of…
By Patte Smith, photo courtesy of USDA Get out of the house this year for fun freedom in the glorious Colorado mountains. Breathing in fresh air while tromping through the forest in search of the perfect holiday tree is exhilarating. Dress warm and be prepared for winter weather, or who knows, it might be warm…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett One of the things I love about food and cooking is that it’s a great way to bring very different things together and discover how to make a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Restaurant chefs do this all the time, combining flavors from different…
Article and photos by Lisa Crockett ~ Assorted fruits in bite sized pieces: Strawberries Cantaloupe (reserve one piece of cantaloupe) Raspberries Bananas Seedless grapes Pineapple ~One pear (red or green), halved ~Cake décor candy eyes (available at craft and grocery stores) ~12-15 wooden skewers ~One whole cantaloupe Slice the bottom of the cantaloupe to create…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Sarah Tierney “Anchor Bar wings are the gold standard of wings,” exclaimed resident Sarah Tierney. Tierney grew up in Buffalo, New York, where Buffalo chicken wings began (but in Buffalo, they are known simply as “wings”). The name for the ubiquitous sauce and wings, therefore, has nothing to do…
By Lisa Nicklanovich Whether you are curious about what being a vegan means, are interested in moving toward being “veganish,” or if you’ll have a vegan at your Thanksgiving table, World Vegan Day on November 1, the start of World Vegan Month, is a great opportunity to understand this movement more. Veganism, by definition, is…
By Carin Kirkegaard; courtesy photos Hazel Bagley celebrated 103 years of life on October 25 at Legacy Village of Castle Pines. Hazel has the honor of being the oldest resident in the senior living community. Born in Josten, Missouri in 1917, Hazel was the middle sister of five girls. Her dad was an auctioneer and…
By Bryan Goodland; courtesy photo As the cold and flu season approaches, many Castle Pines community residents both young and old are considering seasonal vaccinations. This is especially true for those age 65 and older. While there may be concern about side effects from vaccinations, seniors are at a higher risk of complications from the…
By Chris Michlewicz; courtesy photos He’s a familiar face on TV and a familiar face in the neighborhood. Dave Fraser, the chief meteorologist for FOX31 and Channel 2 News, has called Castle Pines home ever since he landed in Colorado almost 20 years ago. “It was serendipitous. We looked at so many homes that for…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Sean O’Dea There’s more to Sean O’Dea than a first glance might suggest. Among his various titles are husband, father, police officer, veteran, educator and author. Currently, O’Dea is a social studies teacher at Regis Jesuit High School. He recently stepped down as the chair of the department to…
Veterans use long-distance walks to lift each other up –and bring attention to PTSD By Chris Michlewicz; photo courtesy of Josh Emer Play was stopped mid-game on a baseball diamond in Larkspur in August, and all of the players and spectators left the field. It wasn’t because of inclement weather; it was because a procession…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Kevin Leung Kevin Leung, 26-year resident of The Village at Castle Pines was one of this year’s three winners of the Colorado Association of School Board McGuffey Award. The award honors unique members who bring committed and passionate service to their board work. Leung came to this country with…
By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of VICC “YOU ARE Project reCYCLE” is a statement that the nonprofit Project reCYCLE (PR) organization firmly believes. Providing a bike to a child that has never had one or needs one is their absolute goal, and the people who donate bikes and volunteer their time are key to their…
By Celeste McNeil; photos by Terri Wiebold Phase I of the Rueter-Hess Recreation Authority (RHRA) master plan is close to completion. The first phase includes the Newlin’s Gold Trail, a hiking trail near the reservoir entry to an overlook. A stair incline is also part of phase one. The incline is north of Hess Road…
By Zach Lipfield, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of RCHS Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) boys golf finished fifth in the state at the 2020 Class 5A boys golf state championships held in Golden at The Club at Rolling Hills on October 5 and 6. The team went into the championship after finishing first at…
Article and photo by Maddy Merritt, RCHS intern writer Returning to school this fall has looked quite a bit different for Castle Pines students. With most middle and high schools offering either completely online learning or a hybrid schedule where students still spend a significant portion of the time learning at home, students are juggling…
Article and photo by Claire Bauer, RCHS intern writer Students at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) recently finished their first official quarter of hybrid learning – part of the week at home online, and part in-person at school. While this was a big change for all students, this year’s freshman class of 2024, have arguably…
Notice is hereby given that a proposed budget has been submitted to the Castle Pines Metropolitan District (CPMD) for the ensuing year of 2021. A copy of such proposed budget has been filed in the office of the District, 5880 Country Club Drive, in Castle Rock, Colorado, where same is open for public inspection. Such…
Article and photo by Julie Matuszewski; photos by Lynn Zahorik Nestled in the middle of Colorado is the town of Salida. Known as the “Heart of the Rockies,” this small mountain town attracts visitors with its charm and year-round outdoor life. Its appeal comes without all of the hustle and bustle of a popular mountain…
By Chris Michlewicz A road-widening project on U.S. 85 between Sedalia and Louviers is expected to impact Castle Pines motorists through spring 2022. The $23.7 million project – a joint effort between Douglas County and the Colorado Department of Transportation – aims to accommodate an increase in traffic resulting from population growth. The widening will…
By Chris Michlewicz; photos courtesy of CDOT A four-year-long construction project designed to improve safety and traffic flow along a heavily-used stretch of I-25 south of Castle Rock has reached the halfway point. The I-25 South Gap project is creating new express lanes, widening the highway from two to three lanes in each direction between…
By Carin Kirkegaard; graphic by Tim Gamble Last month, construction and infrastructure work began on the southwest corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Lagae Road. Since the City’s incorporation in 2008, the roughly 10-acre parcel of land has remained vacant. It was recently purchased and subdivided into six parcels (and one tract), two of which…
By Patte Smith 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). Discover Goodwill of Southern & Western Colorado administers the Douglas County LEAP program for the Colorado Department of Human Services. The federally funded program assists with heating costs,…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; information provided by Douglas County Douglas County will mail ballots to registered voters beginning the week of October 12 for the November 3 election. The general election, which will include a vote in the presidential race as well as other local and national issues, will be an all-mail ballot election. To…
By Kathy Fallert If you want to know what is on your ballot for the upcoming November election, here are a few great resources available to answer your questions. The Douglas County website features election information (https://www.douglas.co.us/elections/), including the 2020 General Election Composite Sample Ballot for residents living in Douglas County. The sample ballot presents…
Information provided by the Colorado Department of Transportation The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is joining forces with the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local law enforcement agencies statewide to help prevent impaired drivers from threatening the safety of others on Colorado roadways. Law enforcement will be on high alert during the Fall Festivals DUI…
By Patte Smith The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has a traffic unit that addresses the ongoing problem of speeding in residential neighborhoods. It encourages citizens to call the traffic safety hotline at 303-660-7539 and report speeding vehicles. Report the license plate number, description of the vehicle and the time of day the speeding occurred.…
Information provided by Douglas County One of Douglas County’s most historic ranches is now protected with a conservation easement made possible by County taxpayers, County Commissioners, The Conservation Fund, Douglas Land Conservancy (DLC) and the owner of Ditmars Ranch. The 1,500-acre property was identified 25 years ago as a conservation priority in the south I-25…
Adventures in life and in the kitchen By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Jo Brinkerhoff Mark Brinkerhoff’s passion for hospitality runs deep, with roots in Douglas County that have brought him full circle – back home to Castle Pines. A Colorado native, Mark grew up in Sedalia, the second of four children in a very…
By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of Chris Michlewicz The Castle Pines Connection is thrilled to welcome Chris Michlewicz to our team as a writer and photo journalist. Michlewicz is originally from Royal Oak, Michigan, and moved to Douglas County in 1996. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from the University of…
By Terri Wiebold; photos courtesy of Ron Di Donato Whether you are new to working remotely or you have been teleworking for years, the need for in-person social interaction remains important. The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce has partnered with RFPrepared owner Kirsten Sandlin to host a monthly coworking event for all current and prospective…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard On September 10, the Articles of Dissolution for the Castle Pines North Association, Inc. (Master Association) were filed with the Colorado Secretary of State, dissolving the more than 35-year-old community-wide homeowners association (HOA). The remaining funds at the time of dissolution totaled $259,833 and were disbursed to the sub-HOAs that participated…
Article and photo by Terri Wiebold The Village at Castle Pines business district saw several changes last month, a musical chairs of sorts. In September, Sterling Custom Homes moved its operations into the former Guaranty Bank building, creating a nearly 12,000-square foot design center. “With a building this big, we get the opportunity to showcase…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; courtesy photo The fourth annual 9/11 Eat for a Cause community fundraiser looked a little different this year. Traditionally held at Pino’s Italian Kitchen & Bar (Pino’s), this year Castle Pines newest eating establishment, Berg Haus joined in to honor and celebrate first responders, military and frontline workers and to “Never…
A creative solution to slowing traffic By Terri Wiebold; photos courtesy of Ron Di Donato While in self-quarantine, some have been busy doing home renovation and organization projects, gardening or binge-watching shows on Netflix. Others have taken on new hobbies, like papier-mâché. The Castle Pines Connection received a phone call from Ron Di Donato, a…
Discussing ALL THINGS literature By Chris Michlewicz; photo courtesy of Sudden Fiction Books For those who don’t consume content on Netflix, cable TV or the internet, books are essential in times like these. The U.S. has seen an uptick in book sales since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. According to NPD BookScan, the print book market…
Neighborly chat leads to $50,000 grant By Chris Michlewicz; photo courtesy of the Marilyn Lichtman Foundation A conversation between neighbors in Glen Oaks set in motion a chain of events that could positively impact job opportunities for the visually impaired for years to come. It was in May that Elaine Hussey and Michael Scott were…
Article and photo by Lynn Zahorik Tucked between the towns of Buena Vista and Salida in Chalk Creek Canyon lies the picturesque resort of Mount Princeton Hot Springs (MPHS). Surrounded by majestic 14,000-foot peaks, this historical but modern retreat in Nathrop is an idyllic place to vacation. The geothermal mineral pools which bubble out of…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of “Our Heritage: People of Douglas County” Our early Douglas County pioneers knew well the meaning of the “Wild, Wild West.” They lived its hardships, pain and unpredictability. Whether from Europe or the East Coast, the life left behind was more urbane. Quiet. Civilized. So was it for Samuel (Sam)…
By Celeste McNeil; aerial photo by Bob Wiebold; photos courtesy of HistoriCorps Devils Head, the familiar craggy outcropping that sits on the horizon just to the south and west of the Castle Pines community, is home to one of the last seven original Front Range fire lookout towers still in service. A mountain summit in…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of SimplyEuro Automotive Repair Winter driving in Colorado means being ready for anything. October is a good month to do an overall winter-ready car check so you are prepared for whatever Mother Nature serves up. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), dead batteries and accidents resulting from worn tread…