The Connection

Article and photos by Lisa Crockett In a medium saucepan, melt the butter then add sugar, corn syrup and condensed milk, stir constantly and allow mixture to come to a boil. As soon as the mixture boils, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla. The caramel dip will thicken as it cools.…

Gabled salt storage buildings along the river Trave in Lubeck, Northern Germany, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner My first visit was at age 8, in 1953. Our suitcases were stuffed with cigarettes and coffee – high-value barter items in post-war Germany stricken with shortages. As we drove from Nuremberg…

By Steve Whitlock; photo by Terri Wiebold There are now a number of food delivery services available to the residents of Castle Pines. They include Uber Eats, GrubHub and DoorDash, each of which has been growing its delivery orders between 55-90% a year – evidence of its increased popularity. One local driver, Sina Bikloo, who…

By Michelle Post; courtesy photo Coworking is the answer to staying connected for entrepreneurs, startups, freelancers, remote workers and home-based businesses. But just what is coworking? Google defines coworking as “the use of an office or other working environment by people who are self-employed or working for different employers, typically so as to share equipment,…

Article and photos by Kathy Fallert Tony’s Meats & Market in The Village at Castle Pines hosted a hog roast in conjunction with the annual Hot Rods in The Village car show on Saturday, August 10. Many makes and models of vintage cars lined the streets and live music entertained the crowds, while the savory…

An AED is located right inside the main entrance at Buffalo Ridge Elementary. Article and photo by Lynn Zahorik National Preparedness Month is observed each September to promote family and community disaster and emergency planning now and throughout the year. It is sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the 2019 theme recognized across…

By Patte Smith Each September, National Suicide Prevention Month is a call to action by every organization involved in suicide prevention. These groups reach out to the public to educate individuals, families and friends about warning signs and the importance of being proactive in seeking help. Individuals who mention or are contemplating suicide need to…

Brand proudly takes his place as the national champion on the race podium. Brand finished first in the mens 15-19 age group for the USA Sprint Triathlon. By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Mira Brand Carter Brand, Rock Canyon High School senior and Castle Pines resident, finished at the top of the podium as…

By Patte Smith It is a beautiful time of the year to get outside and enjoy family and friends while experiencing some top-notch festivals near and far. Whether you enjoy a stein of beer, face painting, fine art or going on a hayride, there is something for everyone. Close by, the premier 30th Colorado Artfest…

Four generations of Fallerts learned about their roots this summer. Brook Fallert Laguana (center) pictured with her father, Castle Pines resident Mitch Fallert (left), her grandfather Jerry Fallert (right) and her daughter Melelani Laguana (front). By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Brook Fallert Laguana My stepdaughter, Brook Fallert Laguana, went through a recent career change…

All smiles and shining bright Phillip Ullom takes the stage with his fellow cast and crew members for the final curtain call of American Academy’s “High School Musical.” By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of American Academy With the new school year now upon us, it seemed fitting that the American Academy (AA) theater arts program…

By Lynn Zahorik, courtesy photos The Mile High Rowing Club (MHRC) is a nonprofit youth rowing program for ages 13-18 operating on the waters of Cherry Creek Reservoir in Denver. Rowing builds character and is a mental and physical discipline that helps youth thrive on the water and land. An accomplished rower, Coach Grace Malacrida…

The City of Castle Pines unveiled new street signs along Castle Pines Parkway on August 19. The new signage features a portion of the City’s new logo and replaces the old Douglas County signs. Other street signs throughout the City will be replaced over time and on an as-needed basis. Pictured above left: Mayor Tera…

Standing next to a massive petrified tree stump was cool for these campers, but learning how the tree stump became petrified was remarkable. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCSM DCS Montessori (DCSM) students enjoyed one last summer adventure before they turned in their hiking boots and binoculars for books and homework. Fourteen first through…

Robert Thelen (pictured above with his wife, Karissa) presented at the 2019 American Educational Research Association Conference in Toronto, Canada. By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Robert Thelen Robert Thelen excitedly filled the assistant principal vacancy at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) left when Jen Murdock-Jacoway moved into the role of principal earlier this year. He…

Castle Pines resident Blake Wilson has launched his new company, Colorado Gold Label Beer LLC, and his product is available at many locations within Castle Pines. By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Blake Wilson Have you ever had a collection? Castle Pines resident since 2005, Blake Wilson has been collecting beer cans for the past…

By Carin R. Kirkegaard; Photos courtesy of Addison Wagner The transition from college to full-blown adulthood can be bumpy. Underemployment, moving back home or contemplating graduate school are real possibilities for many new graduates. There can be a societal pressure that with a diploma comes a 9-to-5 job, a mortgage and a definite life plan.…

Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzc2ZbyGNqw&feature=youtu.be to watch this video about trail etiquette. Information provided by Douglas County Did you know that last year Douglas County Parks and Open Space properties received more than one million visitors? Hikers, bikers and equestrians all shared hundreds of miles of trails. And while the County’s 17,000 acres of public open space offer…

By Maddy Merritt, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photo With 75 days of summer and a multitude of new arrivals to Netflix and other TV programming, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) students awaited new seasons of their favorite shows including the highly anticipated “Stranger Things 3,” “Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists,” “Shameless,” “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug…

Enthusiastic botanists (left to right) Landon Gulliver, Aleena Koheil, Lucas Gulliver, Alana Rotherham and Graciella Rebull enjoyed the beautiful flower gardens at Denver Botanic Gardens. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCSM A small group of third through fifth grade DCS Montessori (DCSM) campers received a lesson on birds, bees and botany as part of…

By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Cy DeBoer Village resident Cy DeBoer is a busy woman. She is a wife to Bruce and mother to Ryan and Whitney, grandmother of two (Harbour and Chase) and friend to many. Cy is a columnist, author and inspirational speaker. She created and runs a local charity and has…

Caption and photos by Nancy Koontz The Castle Pines Homes Association, as part of its yearly community events, celebrated homeowners with its summer adult-only social held on Saturday, July 27 at the Canyon Club Picnic Pavilion. Wine, beer and other beverages, along with the usual spectacular food created by Flying Horse Catering, were served. Everyone…

Kathleen (far left) sharing her passion for aerospace with her family at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Kathleen Pirazzi We all know life rarely goes as planned. When children experience the unexpected bumps in life, often their parents are dealt the seemingly impossible task of keeping everything running smoothly…

Photos by Lynn Zahorik; slideshow at www.castlepinesconnection.com/pages/photos/album19.html

Bhavya Surapaneni (13) was selected to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland in May after competing in several local spelling bees. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Bhavya Surapaneni Bhavya Surapaneni has no need for spell-check, placing first in the Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) and Douglas County School District (DCSD) spelling…

By Bryan Goodland; photos courtesy of Travis Woolford and Bob Wiebold The Village at Castle Pines will soon be home to a new housing development, The Summit. Sitting at roughly 7,000 feet above sea level and across the street from The Country Club at Castle Pines, the approximately 35-acre development will offer a collection of…

Article and photo by Michelle Post I love river rafting. I was first introduced to it in Texas. Every Memorial Day holiday a group from my husband’s work would raft the Guadalupe River. Some years we just floated and others we rode the rapids. Regardless of the conditions, it was always fun. So, when we…

Steven Collis is a lawyer, professor and successful author in Castle Pines. By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Steven Collis For one Serena resident in the City of Castle Pines, religious freedom is more than part of the First Amendment, it is a way of life. Steven Collis has spent his career understanding, perusing and…

Alec Celecki says his years swimming and working for the Castle Crocs swim team has been a highlight of his summer for the past 14 years. Alec Celecki, pictured below at age 8, proudly posed for a picture after making his first All Star time in the 25 meter butterfly. By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos…

This small hummingbird was lucky to be inside Fire Station 39 where SMFR firefighters nursed it to health last month. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of SMFR Colorado, many people enjoy bird watching in the spring and summer months. Especially fun to watch are the hummingbirds. The most common species of hummingbirds in Colorado are…

American Academy morning cast and crew show their excitement for another outstanding performance. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Robert Merrick American Academy (AA) summer performing arts camp students put on an amazing performance of “Sleeping Beauty” at the Parker Arts Schoolhouse Theater on Mainstreet. This summer camp production was open to AA students K-5…

Students set high goals and “rocked” the climbing wall at Rock’n & Jam’n. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCSM Campers didn’t have to travel great distances to experience the great outdoors and adventures this summer. Seventeen fourth through eighth grade DCS Montessori (DCSM) students dove into summertime with some epic Colorado adventures here in…

What is your story? You hear this question a lot today, and it is not just your personal story but your business’ story. And yes, your business has a story. Your business story matters more than you might realize. Today’s consumers are wise shoppers. They read the reviews, check out social media and ask friends…

The Castle Pines Connection joined Century Communities Colorado Division President Brian Mulqueen (center cutting the ribbon), along with the City and the Castle Pines Chamber, for a ribbon cutting celebration welcoming the builder to the community. Century Communities is offering homes on 140 lots within the Castle Pines Town Center development of the City. Inset:…

By Patte Smith; courtesy photo Summer will be winding down in the next few months, but gardeners still have a lot to do in their gardens. For those with a green thumb or for newer gardeners, now is the time to learn the correct technique for pruning trees and shrubs, as well as researching the…

Photos by Lynn Zahorik The Castle Pines North Master Association annual Concerts in the Park have been ushered in this year with fantastic weather. Live, free entertainment with your neighbors … what could be better? Join for the final concert of the year on Saturday, August 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Coyote…

By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Jennifer Green The South Metro Denver Barnstormers 12-U baseball team took to the field at Cooperstown, New York on July 7 to compete with other 12-U baseball teams from all over the U.S. The Barnstormers players hail from Castle Pines, Oak Hills, Surrey Ridge, Castle Rock and Highlands Ranch.…

Information provided by Douglas County The Board of Douglas County Commissioners held a special work session on July 16 in Castle Rock to hear funding recommendations and status reports regarding plans for $13.3 million appropriated for school security and mental health services for students. The Board had previously approved a resolution appropriating the funds at…

The Village Stingrays, with 160 swimmers are still swimming strong. By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of The Village Stingrays and YSPN The Village Stingrays swim team has more than 20 years of experience in the swimming business. It is the longest parent-run volunteer swim team in the Castle Pines community. Competing with 160 swimmers…

Each Friday, the Castle Crocs coaches held a team meeting and awarded a swimmer of the week from each age group, going over logistics for the upcoming meet and throwing out Crocs merchandise. By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Mira Brand and Camille Pocock The Castle Crocs summer swim team has brought the love…

Douglas County Youth for Christ in Los Angeles, June 2019. Article by Steve Whitlock; photo courtesy of Justin Conant Rocky Heights Middle School has a new activity group starting when Youth for Christ (YFC) begins a new chapter this school year. Youth for Christ nationally is celebrating 75 years of service, with evangelist Billy Graham…

Castle Pines resident Amanda Palyo will be off to Lima, Peru later this month to compete in the 2019 Paralympic Pan Am Games. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of John Palyo Esperanza resident and recent Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) graduate Amanda Palyo has been swimming since she was 6 years old. Starting out with…

Bedbugs generally have flat bodies and are brownish in color. After feeding, their bodies swell and become a reddish color, as pictured above. Article and photos by Terri Wiebold Well, pretty much everything bites about having bedbugs! Yes, I can speak to this first-hand, having just completed a full remediation in my own house. Close…

Jen Murdock-Jacoway was named principal at Buffalo Ridge Elementary. By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy Carlie Leach photography Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) looks forward to a smooth transition as classes begin in a few days. While the official leader at BRE has changed, the face at the helm is not new to students, staff or families.…

County Libraries sells gently used books at local branches and online. By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Douglas County Libraries What happens to all those boxes of gently used books and other materials that are donated to local libraries? Douglas County Libraries (DCL) has a solution which benefits the community and provides opportunities to purchase…

Residents from 80108 (pictured from left to right) Alex Bochner, Nash Bochner and Brad Hansen had an amazing and free Birthright trip this year to Israel and the surrounding areas. The Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem pictured here is a very significant sight for Jewish people as the last remnant of their ancient temple. People…

Cate Papula (pictured above) with her smiling face is the first and last person to greet customers at the REI located in Greenwood Village. Papula was hired as a greeter as part of a partnership between REI and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard Cate Papula has had quite…

By Nancy Koontz; photos courtesy of Louise Bowen and Louise Melbye For more than 20 years, the “Ladies Nine in the Pines” golf league has been hosting an annual golf tournament at The Country Club at Castle Pines. This year’s successful event, “Rally for Research” was held on June 20, and it was an enjoyable…

By Terri Wiebold; photos courtesy of Debbi Haynie While we spend an entire lifetime building memories, the timeline for checking items off our “bucket list” seems to be accelerated as we enter the later chapters in our lives. Castle Pines residents Debbi and Travis Haynie experienced that acceleration – literally – at Bandimere Speedway for…

RCHS biotech students and staff members visited the University of Pennsylvania on June 3. The group toured the university’s medical school and labs on their trip. By RCHS intern writer Maddy Merritt; photo courtesy of Shawndra Fordham In early June, students in the biotechnology (biotech) program at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) attended the BIO…

By Susan Helton Connection writer Susan Helton is an avid reader; she once read 64 books during the summer – just because. This month, she shares a contemporary time-travel novel. I recently attended Denver Pop Culture Con and naturally gravitated to the booksellers in the show floor area. One of the books that caught my…

By Terri Wiebold Patrick Romano grew up visiting his grandparents in Castle Pines, and he is now happy to call his old stomping ground home to his newest of 10 Domino’s franchise locations. “I have such fond memories of Castle Pines from my childhood … feeding the buffalo named ‘Nick Cream Soda’ at Daniels Park…

By Kathy Fallert There’s nothing I enjoy more than a challenging hike, especially one that takes me to a waterfall at the end. If you do much hiking, you know that maps don’t tend to provide detailed information and guide books are cumbersome. The AllTrails app is a handy tool that can get you on…

By Terri Wiebold Summer is a time to get out and explore and enjoy the beautiful outdoors that Castle Pines offers. With the vibrant golf community in the area, it is no surprise that golf carts have made their way into the “modes of transportation” that get residents from point A to point B. Recently,…

By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photo The Castle Pines community has numerous homeowner associations (HOAs) and each one contracts independently for trash removal and recycling. The three primary waste companies serving the City of Castle Pines and the communities of The Village at Castle Pines, Happy Canyon, Surrey Ridge and other unincorporated areas in the 80108…

Article and photos by Terri Wiebold On Saturday, August 10, the Tri-County Health Department will host its annual drive-through Douglas County Household Chemical Roundup in Highlands Ranch at Shea Stadium, 3270 Redstone Park Circle, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Douglas County residents will be asked for a $25 contribution to help offset the high…

Carefree and enjoying the final weeks of summer, incoming kindergarteners play on the equipment at Elk Ridge Park before a T-ball game. Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard In Castle Pines, summer is drawing to a close for those with school-aged children. The Douglas County School District (DCSD) first day of school is August…

“Thanks for mailing us tickets to see the Outlaws lacrosse game.  What a night …. three rain delays [but still fun]!”  – Linda and Ted Blank By Terri Wiebold; courtesy photos Do you like FREE stuff? The people pictured here do, and they all received free tickets to community events just by being e-subscribers to The…

Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Make a simple syrup: Bring one cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan on the stove. As soon as the water boils, add one cup of granulated sugar and stir continuously until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is bubbling. Turn off the heat and allow…