Read the stories from the latest issue:
Article and photos by Shaun Kernahan The smell of hot dogs and nachos, the sound of a vendor yelling, “Cold beer!”, the electric buzz of 50,000 fans cheering … these are just some of the familiar sights and sounds baseball fans have grown accustomed to when watching the boys of summer play a game. Sadly,…
Article and photo by Patte Smith There is a new opportunity on Tuesday evenings to meet people, get some exercise and cycle throughout the Castle Pines community and surrounding areas – all while enjoying the views of the Front Range from Pikes Peak to Longs Peak. Mark Massey, a fellow neighbor and cyclist said he…
Information provided by Douglas County School District and Douglas County Governmental entities in Douglas County recently secured partnerships enabling more access to COVID-19 testing across the county. The Douglas County School District (DCSD) announced its partnership with COVIDCheck Colorado (CCC), a social benefit enterprise of the Gary Community Investment Company. CCC was created to help…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Rock Canyon Cross Country The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) cross country team had a great turnout for the annual Dillon Run. More than 35 athletes attended this year, making it the most successful year for this event. Cody Jaramillo, a RCHS sophomore, was one of more than 20…
By Shaun Kernahan; courtesy photos Billy Wills was 12 years old when his dad went to the local pawn shop and picked up a secondhand guitar. Over the next 18 months, Billy learned to play that guitar, strumming songs by The Byrds, Herman’s Hermits and The Beatles. That guitar helped make Billy popular in junior…
By Bryan Goodland; courtesy photos People have been talking about the arrival of In-N-Out Burger to Colorado for a while now. Well, it’s starting to look like the wait just might be over. The company has plans to build restaurants in a few different cities in Colorado, but Colorado Springs is the keystone to the…
By Patte Smith; artistic renderings courtesy of Tall Tales Ranch A big milestone has been reached by Tall Tales Ranch, a nonprofit organization that was founded by Susan and Pat Mooney six years ago. The City of Lone Tree approved the Tall Tales Ranch Site Improvement Plan in July. The Mooneys’ vision to build a…
By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue Hot dry Colorado summers often lead to wildfires. Many longtime Castle Pines residents remember the Cherokee Ranch Fire that burned 1,200 acres in October 2003. Thousands of Castle Pines residents were evacuated as flames raced toward homes and smoke billowed. The fire was extinguished the…
By Carin Kirkegaard Life can change at a moment’s notice, as residents impacted by the recent Chatridge 2 Fire discovered when local emergency response teams knocked on doors and gave the order that they had 10 minutes to evacuate their homes. CodeRED is a high-speed telephone emergency notification system that allows public safety personnel to…
By Patte Smith Douglas County Libraries (DCL) keep expanding and improving on community service offerings. Did you know you can borrow a microscope or a Nintendo system for the kids? You can strap on a virtual reality headset for a thrilling experience or learn to strum a ukulele. Want to be a seamstress – borrow…
Photos by Terri Wiebold Residents of the City of Castle Pines were eager to gather in family clusters, while being socially responsible, to enjoy a perfect evening outdoors for the first Movie in the Park of the summer – “Frozen II.” To view a slideshow of the event, visit https://www.castlepinesconnection.com/photo-album-2020/. Be sure to join for…
By Elizabeth Wood West Like so many other businesses and organizations, Douglas County Youth Orchestra (DCYO) was hit hard by COVID-19 this spring. Rather than canceling rehearsals for their spring 2020 performance of “Tom Sawyer,” students Zoomed with DCYO’s conductor and assistant conductor. The spring performance transitioned into a virtual experience. DCYO violinist Ella Winkler…
The kitchen is his office By Shaun Kernahan; photos courtesy of the Hernandez family Born in Southern California, Mike Hernandez moved to Guadalajara, Mexico when he was just a baby. By the time he was 17 years old, Hernandez was ready to spread his wings and start blazing his own trail, so he moved to…
By Patte Smith; courtesy photos Drive-in theaters have made a comeback this summer. In Colorado, there are eight drive-in theaters, and in the Denver area the last original 88 Drive-In Theatre in Commerce City is celebrating 48 years of bringing cinema classics to motion picture fans. With many indoor theaters closed and the traditional stream…
By Shaun Kernahan; photos courtesy of Bill Barclay Growing up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas meant hot summers and rolling hills, so when Bill Barclay discovered trout fishing brought him to cooler climates and mountains, he was, well, hooked. Barclay recently moved to Castle Pines with his wife, Pat, to be closer to…
By Patte Smith; courtesy photo Check your spare tire periodically to make sure it has good air pressure. Be sure all drivers in your household know how to take off a tire and put a spare tire on a car.My family took a road trip in June, and having a spare tire was a huge…
Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of the Douglas County History Research Center Born in 1850, Isaac Jegirtha (I.J.) Noe hailed from Charlestown, Indiana. After a common education, he devoted his early years to farming. That was, until he fell in love and married Jennie Caine of Clark County in 1878. Meanwhile, his…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photo Like many of us, community resident Karen Welden admitted that she has pretty much taken for granted women’s right to vote. “I had forgotten how tough the fight was to get me here but still, I take seriously my current ability to vote,” Welden said. 2020 marks the 100th anniversary…
Article and photos by Nancy Koontz Residents from The Village at Castle Pines celebrated and showed their patriotic spirit in a variety of ways this year. Kicking the Fourth of July weekend off, the Castle Pines Homes Association (CPHA) hosted an old-fashioned drive-in movie viewing of the 2009 Disney movie “Up.” The large blow-up screen…
In an attempt to stay in touch with younger generations and keep abreast of what’s hip, what’s hot and what’s happening NOW, this segment delves into the fringes of pop culture. Our intention is to educate, and we in no way endorse any of the products or ideas shared in this column. By Terri Wiebold…
By Lisa Nicklanovich “We are in the midst of a conservative revolution,” stated Rosemary Thomson, played by Melanie Lynskey, in the historical drama “Mrs. America” streaming on FX on Hulu. “It’s bigger than the ERA now,” Thomson explained. The nine-part series is based on and dramatizes the story of the movement for and against the…
Information provided by the Village Castle Pines Garden Club; photo by Terri Wiebold The Village Castle Pines Garden Club (Club) helped collect toiletries for the Help & Hope Center in Castle Rock last month, organizing a “drive up, drop off” event in The Village at Castle Pines shops. In only three hours on a Saturday…
By Terri Wiebold The board of directors and management of Cherokee Ranch & Castle Foundation have made the decision to temporarily suspend all public activities and pause its public program calendar, including the elimination of large gatherings. The suspension will be effective August 15 and will continue through the end of the year. “We are…
Article and photos by Patte Smith The community of Surrey Ridge is a tight-knit group of families and individuals who join together for parties in the park, Halloween hayrack rides, ladies bridge and many other activities throughout the year. This year, horse lover Renate Nieman organized the inaugural 4th of July community parade through the…
Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner But for an offer from friends to stay at their Lima home, we might never have sampled this land of the Incas. Regrets? Only having overlooked it for so long. We allocated time between the capital, Cusco and the not-to-miss Machu Picchu. Our visit took place in early November,…
Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard Mental health – the emotional, psychological and social well-being of an individual has always been important, particularly among youth and veterans. Robin’s Nest Foundation and War Horse Project are two Douglas County nonprofit organizations that provide a community space where individuals suffering from challenges like depression, anxiety and…
By Steve Whitlock; photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard Just like with people, pets need vaccinations. August is pet vaccination awareness month, which represents a nationwide effort to increase knowledge about vaccines and the importance of immunization for our furry friends. It is a significant topic. Late last year, a dog named Copper died in Highlands…
By Carin Kirkegaard; Photos courtesy of Julie Lamb The families of Cerney Circle celebrated a beautiful summer evening with a pop-up cinema on the circle. Becca Causey planned the event as part of “Flamingo Fridays” a tradition in the neighborhood that allows families to gather and jump-start the weekend.
RANDONAUTICA By Lisa Nicklanovich Randonautica is an app with more than one million downloads that is trending on TikTok and seems to be a global phenomenon. It is advertised on their website as “The world’s first quantumly-generated ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ reality game.” Randonauts share their experiences with the Randonaut community online after playing the…
By Stacie Chadwick I’m a creature of habit – an early morning workout, avocado toast for breakfast, and then? Too much sugar late at night. And, I’m more than a bit of a control freak. I like to craft my personal narrative, plug in the variables and chart my course on any given day. Predictability…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Combine avocado, feta, and olive oil in a food processor and blend for about four minutes, until the mixture is fairly smooth. Scrape sides of the food processor as needed to incorporate ingredients. Serve immediately with veggie dippers.
25 years in the making By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Bob Vick With the slower pace of life the past several months, Bob Vick was looking for something to fill his time. He started gardening and built raised beds in the yard, and tried his hand at baking bread. With a shortage of commercial…
A baker’s saga Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Sourdough is very on-trend right now. Everyone, it seems, is whipping up their own starter (or getting some from a friend) and then turning out artisan loaves worthy of the cover of Bon Appetit magazine. Upon deciding that I too would partake of this particular fad…
By Bryan Goodland Paying for college can be a daunting task for any family. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, during the 2017/2018 academic year, undergraduate private nonprofit institutions cost an average of $46,014 per year, with undergraduate public institutions costing $17,797 per year. Of course, prestigious colleges can cost much more. Those…
to Colorado By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Brenda Bushey Although the annual Maine Lobster Festival has been canceled this summer, the Bushey family of Hidden Pointe is bringing the experience of a New England seafood cookout to Colorado. Having grown up in East Weymouth, Massachusetts, Brenda Bushey is familiar with seafood cookouts on summer…
Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik You don’t have to be a member of the flower power generation to be in awe of the 1965 Volkswagen (VW) Bus that is cruising the neighborhood. It is a stunning automobile painted in classic turquoise and white and adorned with the traditional silver VW badging on the front.…
…and the world By Nancy Koontz; photo courtesy of Judy Pecsok Judy and Tom Pecsok, residents of The Village at Castle Pines since 1999, love their Colorado home, but equally enjoy their time traveling the world. As a couple, the Pecsoks have traveled often, particularly enjoying ski trips to Austria and Switzerland – so much…
GOODBYE LAWN… By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos Community residents Leigh and Eric Houston have a front yard that looks a bit different than most of our front yards; while most of us have grass lawns, the Houston’s recently replaced theirs with a xeriscape yard. Xeriscape refers to a landscape that is meant to save water,…
By Carin Kirkegaard; courtesy photos The Vintage Car Club (VCC) of Castle Rock awarded Jacob Skelton a $2,500 automotive technology scholarship to attend the Lincoln College of Technology. For the past three years, the group has partnered with Ponderosa High School and its automotive program to select a Douglas County senior with plans to academically…
By Shaun Kernahan; photos courtesy of the Zales family Camping in Colorado’s high country is perhaps the perfect 2020 summer vacation. Bryan Zales, Castle Pines resident, has always loved all the adventures being out in the mountains offered. He learned from the best, his dad. When Dr. William Zales retired after more than 30 years…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Michelle Barton Michelle Barton was out biking when she was caught in a thunder and lightning storm last month. “It was the craziest thing I’ve ever been through,” Barton said. After hearing thunder, she decided to turn around. When it continued, she decided to get off her bike and…
Article and photo by Lisa Nicklanovich Closed gyms and finding ways to exercise at home were good for the stationary bike market, and Peloton is leading the pack. The high-end indoor bicycle enables riders to have a challenging, competitive, high-tech pedaling experience at home. With its Wi-Fi enabled touchscreen tablet that streams live and on-demand…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Kurtis Klein Many people look at 2020 as a year they hope to leave in the rearview mirror. That’s not the case for resident of The Village at Castle Pines and lifelong golfer Kurtis Klein. For him, two very important life events took place in 2020 – the…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photo The Castle Pines Connection would like to thank Sarah Bermingham for her contributions as an intern writer the last five years. We wish her well as she heads off to college. Sarah began writing as an intern when she was a student at Rocky Heights Middle School and contributed articles…
By Patte Smith At the start of the 2020-21 school year, the Douglas County School District (DCSD) will streamline how concerned individuals report anonymous tips. Rather than operating both the Text-A-Tip and Safe2Tell programs, the District will only be using Safe2Tell moving forward. Safe2Tell is a state-funded initiative of the Colorado Department of Law, Office…
The Castle Pines Connection is seeking student writers and/or photographers for our internship program for the 2020-2021 school year. Interns will have the opportunity to create community related content on a monthly basis. They will work closely with the editor of The Connection to develop and enhance their journalistic skills and produce a body of…
Mrs. Abramovitz, our child is leaving for college and we need some encouragement around the empty seat at our family table. Could you help us? I would be honored. Our youngest just left for the Air Force Academy in June, and we’re left with an odd number of seats and dare I say, an odd…
By Sarah Bermingham, RCHS intern writer; photos courtesy of the Mendus family As an incoming college freshman, I know how overwhelming it can be to choose what to take to school, especially when move-in day is so different this year. With time restraints and a lack of volunteers to personally help with move-in day, efficiency…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Rebecca Jones Eating popsicles in the hot summer, chasing the ice cream truck and playing in the sand and water are all staples of good old summer fun. DCS Montessori (DCSM) summer campers enjoyed a lot of summer fun playing at local beaches while learning more about Colorado’s wildlife…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Chip Bromfield, Pro-Motion, Ltd. Western heritage, the cowboy way of life and being on the range with a horse and a pack string may be a dying tradition – a lost art – to some, but for the select group of men that make up the Roundup Riders…
By Patte Smith; graphic courtesy of Douglas County Planning On May 12, Douglas County Commissioners approved the site plans for the expansion of Journey Church located at 9009 Clydesdale Road between the Surrey Ridge and Oak Hills neighborhoods. The church opened in August 2017, and the congregation has continued to grow over the past few…
…at-home experiences and celebrations in Douglas County Information and photos provided by Douglas County Libraries Douglas County Libraries (DCL) continue to innovate new ways to connect with the community. The DCL’s newest endeavor, “DCL Delivers Good Times,” provides customers in Douglas County entertaining new ways to enjoy library services and materials through at-home experiences and…
By Terri Wiebold; photos courtesy of the DCSO In May, The Connection introduced readers to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) Community Response Teams (CRT). We caught up with them this month to share one way they are having an impact on the homeless population in Douglas County. The CRT partners with the community to…
Information provided by Douglas County Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect for Douglas County. Prohibited activities include open burning of any kind and use and sale of fireworks. Allowable activities include 1) fires within liquid-fueled or gas-fueled stoves, fireplaces within buildings, charcoal grill fires within developed residential or commercial areas, and fires within wood…
On July 4, residents in Douglas County will have a choice of three professional fireworks shows, in Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch and Parker – all starting at approximately 9:30 p.m. All three fireworks displays were designed, and locations determined, while working closely with law enforcement and fire protection agencies. All displays will be broadcast live…
By Lisa Nicklanovich When we think of July, we often think of Independence Day. In addition to all the celebrations, fireworks and barbecues, July is a great opportunity to remind ourselves about the Charters of Freedom, the three documents which are considered instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States of America. The…
Submitted by Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Welcoming new business Ziggi’s Coffee to the community, the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce hosted its first ever VIRTUAL ribbon cutting ceremony. Adhering to social distancing guidelines, chamber board members and Ziggi’s staff participated on site, while fellow chamber businesses joined in online.
By Terri Wiebold Thankfully for businesses, doors are beginning to reopen and revenue streams are slowly starting to return. Businesses have been doing all they can to stay afloat, so advertising budgets and marketing dollars have been dramatically reduced. It’s times like these that customers need messaging the most, and reminding them that your business…
Article and photos by Terri Wiebold The Exchange is a new public coffee house and gathering place on the east side of the city in The Canyons development. Stop in for a handcrafted coffee, freshly made pastries, gourmet salads, soups, sandwiches and more. Mention The Connection and receive a free pastry with your purchase of…
Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard Throughout the past month, customers of The Pet Stuff Place in The Village at Castle Pines have been coming to purchase items for their pets and to say goodbye to long-time employee Richard Danforth. Danforth has been a staple at the store for many years, greeting customers and…
At the hospital helm By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Brandon Nudd Relative newcomer to Douglas County, resident Brandon Nudd moved to Colorado in 2018 to become the CEO of Castle Rock Adventist Hospital. Nudd was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He met his wife, Maria, while in elementary school and they…
Courtesy photos Driving throughout the Castle Pines community, the American spirit is evident – even when it is not a holiday. We canvassed the community on a random day in June and captured these photos. If you see your flag pictured in the photos below, email Editor@castlepinesconnection.com to receive a surprise gift.
Article and photo by Kathy Fallert It starts with Otis sounding the alarm, “Rooo! Rooo! Roooooooo!” The rumble of thunder is faint, but it’s enough to get his attention. So much so that he interrupts his relentless chomping and grooming of Tebow’s ears. Otis looks at me. He looks at my husband. He looks at…
Article and photo by Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photo To study Douglas County’s early history is to dig into events around the headwaters of Plum and Cherry creeks. Nowhere is it more colorful than the upper Plum Creek basin, where John Perry, Ben Quick and John Kinner harnessed their lives to the spectacular high-country meadows. In…
By Stacie Chadwick Long before I understood if I would, should or could have children, I knew that my firstborn daughter would be named Grace. And so she was. Prior to that, before my husband and I had yet to lay eyes on each other, I further knew that “Amazing Grace” would be the cornerstone…
By Terri Wiebold This month we go retro with our pop culture, and for good reason – everything old is new again. The award-winning animated musical and educational series Schoolhouse Rock! was released on Disney+ last month, sharing the magic with a whole new generation. Admit it – you are singing, “I’m just a bill,…
By Lisa Nicklanovich Whether you say The Fourth of July, Independence Day or simply July 4th, the day includes celebrations that go back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. In 1776, on July 2, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from Great Britain. It was two days later that delegates from…