Read the stories from the latest issue:
Graduating Rock Canyon High School seniors returned to Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) to take part in a new tradition of walking the halls where their education first began. The students were applauded by the teachers at the school, many of whom instructed the graduating seniors. By Carin R Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Julie Lamb and…
By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Mary-Sue Quinn A resident of Forest Park for 13 years, Mary-Sue Quinn is a member of the Colorado Society of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA). In fact, Quinn is the patriotic service chair for the Colorado Society and has been for eight years. As…
By Terri Wiebold Castle Pines City Council and the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) Board of Directors each voted unanimously last month in support of a resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement for the dissolution of the Castle Pines Parks Authority and the transfer of its assets to the City. The Castle Pines Parks Authority…
College students from several different schools gathered at a home in Sapphire Pointe this summer to connect with kids from other schools and also with God. They will continue to meet through the end of August. Article and photo by Steve Whitlock A new college group is meeting in Sapphire Pointe. The lively and welcoming…
Aerial map showing the location of Miller’s Landing, along with renderings of major and proposed roadways and existing trails and potential future trail connections. Article and photo by Bryan Goodland; rendering courtesy of Navpoint Real Estate Group Landfills are a part of the modern world, but they don’t have to stay that way forever. In…
Delaney Musick spots a photo of her brother, Brennan, in the June issue of The Connection. By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Judah Musick “Community is like a big family” said the Polish sociologist and philosopher Zygmunt Bauman. It’s knowing your neighbors and running into friends and teammates at the grocery store. Community is a…
Principal John Veit celebrated four students who earned perfect attendance in the 2018-2019 school year at Buffalo Ridge. Left to right: Evan R. finished elementary school with perfect attendance; James H. started his first year off with a perfect record, never missing a day of school; Levi K. attended school for 1,218 hours; and Addy…
Article and photos by Julie Matuszewski Much like the fairytale ending of the movie “Grease,” Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) students wrapped up the school year with a fun evening carnival. This was TTE’s inaugural family fun fest to celebrate the end of another great school year. Even though the evening was cold and damp, the…
Pictured above are Emma Meisel and her dad, Chuck, who was able to be with his daughter in LA to watch her network debut on “The Kids Are Alright” when it premiered April 30 on ABC. By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of the Meisel family Local Castle Pines resident Emma Meisel made her network…
DCSM Park Adventures campers know how to enjoy Castle Pines local parks. Campers took advantage of the beautiful day to climb and swing at Coyote Ridge Park. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy DCS Montessori Summer is all about exploring the unknown, trying a new outdoor activity or diving deep into a world of adventure. DCS…
By Susan Helton The Connection writer Susan Helton is an avid reader; as a teen, she once read 64 books during summer break – just to see if she could. This month, she shares a charming book by and about a woman rancher in Colorado. Taken from her diaries, Shepherdess of Elk River Valley by…
Scandinavian design has long been seen as avant-garde by the world; the Helsinki Central Library Oodi (pictured above) does not disappoint. By Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos One has favorite cities; Helsinki remains high on my list. With granite foundations, a comparable resolve in her people and Nordic wooded beauty, the allure is magnetic! I visited…
Doctor of optometry, Dr. Jason Ortman. By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of Black Diamond Eye Care After serving the vision needs of the Castle Pines community for 17 years, Castle Pines Eye Care is expanding and changing its name to Black Diamond Eye Care. From humble beginnings in 2002 within a strip mall of what…
Information provided by The City of Castle Pines; Photos by Nancy Koontz and courtesy of the CPNMD Colorado is drought-free for the first time in 20 years, but that doesn’t change the need for fire mitigation efforts in the naturally wooded neighborhoods of Castle Pines. In fact, the wet spring weather has provided the perfect…
By Bryan Goodland Summer is in full swing, and finding things to do, especially with grandchildren, can be a challenge. Luckily, Colorado offers a wide variety of activities sure to bridge the generation gap and make it a summer to remember. To make things even easier, we’ve come up with a week’s worth of events…
By Elizabeth Wood West; photos by Chuck McCallon The Rotary Club of Castle Rock held its 23rd Annual Ducky Derby fundraiser and family fun festival at Festival Park in downtown Castle Rock in June. The event featured a variety of street vendors, live entertainment, face painting, a bouncy castle and the event finale – the…
Kindergarten soccer “Team Blue” in 2012. Community Super Bowl winners, 11-12 age bracket, fall 2018. Article and photo by Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Imagetek One youth football team in Castle Pines recently reflected on nearly a decade with the same coach and core group of boys. Coach Scott Miller has dedicated much of his…
This area at the southeast intersection of Hess Road and I-25 is the potential location of a future 4-acre transit facility if rail-based transportation continues to Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Article and photo by Kathy Fallert The Southwest Chief & Front Range Passenger Rail Commission (Passenger Rail Commission) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)…
Information provided by the Colorado Department of Transportation; courtesy photo A train traveling at 55 miles per hour takes a mile to stop – the length of 18 football fields or more – after applying the emergency brakes. Between 2013 and 2017, 14 people were killed and 36 were injured in vehicle-train crashes in Colorado.…
Article and photos by Terri Wiebold “Behind our doors, we refer to you as trade partners because that’s who you are … We’re very loyal to the folks who take care of us, and those of you who have been with us for a long time, you know what that means …” were the opening…
By Kathy Fallert Summer is a very popular time to travel. While there are roaming phone plans out there that can include international and carrier fees for calling abroad, the WhatsApp app (a free app owned by Facebook) gives users fast, secure messaging and calling for free right on your cellphone using your phone’s internet…
Caption and photo by Lynn Zahorik Castle Pines resident Kathy Shiflet (left) shared a “proud mother” moment with son, Scott Moody, and his marketing manager and fellow Castle Pines resident Kathy Erdman (right). Scott Moody Fine Art, which specializes in pen and ink and colored pencil drawings, was one of the many booths featured at…
Balance and connections By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Nicole Moses Nicole Moses, owner of The UPS Store in Castle Pines, had originally planned to be a teacher. But during student teaching, she realized that it was not the right fit for her. She had already worked several years in her brother’s UPS Store downtown…
Exuding strength and poise beyond what one might expect of a 15-year-old, Julia Soechtig attacks a difficult jump on her Holsteiner, Petri. By Nancy Koontz; photos courtesy of Lori Soechtig Because of her unbridled love of horses, 15-year-old Julia Soechtig received her first horse at the age of 6. Now she is the proud…
The day Chris Givin (center) was drafted, his former coach and teammates gathered in Castle Pines to celebrate. Pictured from left to right are Tucker Middleham, Nick Lamb, Chris Givin, Coach Roy Middleton and Brian Harrity. By Carin R. Kirkegaard, photos courtesy of the Givin family Chris Givin graduated from Xavier University with a degree…
Heather Clark with her husband, Bryson, and sons Tye (15) and Jaren (19). The family is very service-oriented, with Heather leading the charge to bring food and supplies to Eagle Academy students. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Heather Clark When Heather Clark volunteered at Eagle Academy High School (EAHS) in Lone Tree a year…
Information and photos provided by Castle Pines Athletics Super Bowl champions were once again named for kids playing recreational youth flag football through Castle Pines Athletics (CPA). The Denver Broncos took home the title (and trophies) for the third and fourth grade age group – led by head coach Matt McDonald, while the New York…
Nicole Vanderpoel before a pool swim for Swim Across America, which raises funds for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Inset: Vanderpoel (left) presented a $150,000 check to Children’s Hospital Colorado Executive Director Elizabeth Nowak (right) at last year’s fundraising event. This year’s event will be August 25 with the…
Article and photos by Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Brittin Karaffa
Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Events Director Whitney Shank proudly accepted a well-deserved award from the Colorado Chamber of Commerce Executives organization. By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Please join The Connection in congratulating Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Events Director Whitney Shank for receiving the 2018 Team Member…
The RidgeGate end-of-line station east of I-25 is operational and open for service. By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Sidney Clough The new 2.3-mile RTD Southeast Rail Extension is up and running and for many residents in the southeast corridor, this is very good news. The rail extension consists of three stations – Sky Ridge,…
Trevor Christensen and Zach Johnson performed a song and dance that was a crowd pleaser. They performed Tim Hawkins’ YouTube-inspired “Chick-fil-A” song. Article and photos by Julie Matuszewski The annual Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) variety show hosted 21 acts of talent during this year’s performance. Ribbon dancing, gymnastics, hula hooping, vocals, instrumentals, diabolo yoyo and…
Caption and photo by Patte Smith Kathy Newell, a member of The Village Idiots Cycling Club, joined fellow club cyclists to pick up litter along a section of South Havana frontage road on Saturday, April 27. The club, known for giving back to the community, adopted a section of the road a few years ago…
By Patte Smith Get out your lawn chairs and blankets to celebrate the 4th of July close to home in Castle Rock. While there is no official celebration in town, fireworks will be launched from the Santa Fe Quarry Butte that is located above Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course, south of The Meadows. This is…
Teens supporting teens By Elise Brassell; photo courtesy of The Happy Crew A smile and a kind word from a friend can brighten anyone’s day, but when teens need extra support, The Happy Crew is here! The Happy Crew is a group who empowers teenagers to help their peers reduce stress, anxiety and depression through…
By Patte Smith, photo courtesy of Hutch Tibbetts, Douglas County Libraries The Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) held its annual Focus Forward Breakfast on April 25 at the Charles Schwab Conference Center in Lone Tree. Speakers addressed the critical needs of Douglas County residents and explained the foundation’s Hearts & Hands Fund that was established…
Congratulations to the spring 80108 student-athletes who have signed letters of intent to play their sport in college! By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos Rock Canyon High School Isaac Abramovitz Boys Lacrosse U.S. Air Force Academy, CO Isaac will attend Northwest Prep Academy in California before attending the U.S. Air Force Academy. Coach John Gallant said,…
Sarah Matarelli (playing Millie) and Brennan Lanam (playing Johnny) are all dolled up and ready for the stage. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Adoration Pro Photo American Academy (AA) students delivered a show stopping performance that had the audience dancing the Charleston! “Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr.” is a story of a 1920s small town…
Ninety-seven students were honored at the annual RCHS community service lettering ceremony for volunteering at the 100, 250, 500 and 1,000 hour level. By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos The annual community service lettering ceremony took place on April 23 at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS), honoring 97 students who volunteered their time and talents to…
Article and photos by Terri Wiebold On Saturday, May 4, nearly 600 guests gathered at CU Denver South’s campus to learn more about The Canyons in Castle Pines. Visitors learned about the homebuilders and discovered information on planned community amenities. Shea Homes Colorado Division President Chetter Latcham welcomed participants during each of the three informational…
By Patte Smith, photo courtesy of Allen Zearing Summer fun – getting outside enjoying family, friends, and neighbors, shopping at farmers markets, going fishing, bicycling, barbecuing – great summer days and so many things to do. If you enjoy classy and classic cars, “really cool” hot rods, clean machines, macho trucks or sweet corvettes, cruise…
The Rock newspaper staff of Rock Canyon High School. The staff earned many awards from the Colorado Student Media Association, including two first place awards to The Connection writing interns, Amanda Brauchler and Alec Sutula. Article and photos by Maddy Merritt, RCHS intern writer Journalism can be a profession, a hobby or something a group…
Information provided by the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District The Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD) and Parker Water & Sanitation District (PWSD) boards of directors and district managers met last month for a joint work session to answer two primary questions: In some form or fashion, should CPNMD and PWSD merge their respective water…
By Terri Wiebold Last month, The Connection featured information regarding the King Soopers Community Rewards program (formerly the loyalty program). However, some of the contribution information we reported was incorrect. According to Castle Pines Store Manager Dennis Fossceco, rather than an organization earning a straight 5% on all purchases, here is what the program offers: King Soopers…
By Michelle Post Video is a must-have for businesses today. Today’s consumers love video content and are 92% more likely to share the videos they watch. Additionally, a consumer is more likely to buy after viewing a video demonstration of a product or service. With today’s smartphones, we all are carrying a full media company…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett June is all about dad (Father’s Day is June 16), so I’m always looking for good “man food” to rustle up around this time of year. Starting in June, the grill gets turned on just about every day at our house, so it’s a given that on Father’s Day,…
Article and photos by Celeste McNeil The kindergarten enrichment class at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) school learned about eggs and chicks hands-on this spring. Four dozen fertilized eggs were generously loaned to the enrichment class during incubation. Throughout the three-week wait, students learned about embryo life cycles, chick development, genetics and much more. This is…
By Steve Whitlock; photos courtesy of Dennis Murray Castle Pines resident Dennis Murray serves as the new golf pro at the Denver Athletic Club (DAC) – the only one they’ve ever had. Additionally, he is the only professional golfer to win both the PGA Player of the Year and PGA Teacher of the Year awards.…
By Susan Helton Filling in for Amanda Merriman, Connection writer Susan Helton is also an avid reader. This month, she shares a fun book of vignettes about anything and everything. I was fortunate enough recently to attend a talk given by novelist Lisa Scottoline (Someone Knows, etc.) at Douglas County Libraries – Philip S. Miller.…
Excited second grader Savannah Rosenlund eagerly showed her final embossing piece. Article and photos by Julie Matuszewski During spring parent conferences, students from the American Academy (AA) Castle Pines campus shared their awesome art at the year’s last art show. This was the fourth annual end-of-year art show for AA students K-5. Art instructor Kelsea…
Dedicated DCS Montessori (DCSM) middle school students traveled domestically and abroad this spring to help improve trails and bridges as part of their service-learning curriculum. On their last day in Goosenecks State Park in Utah (pictured above), students sat atop the deep canyon to enjoy striking views of the San Juan River below. Inset is…
The Blue Lagoon in Ulodeniz, Turkey is one of the most photographed in the world. The gradations of blue and green are spectacular. It swims well too! Cappadocia. Formed in the same manner as Castle Rock’s buttes, the towers and geology of this region is otherworldly. One can spend days wandering and appreciating the region…
Jessica Petau’s full-day kindergarten class gave their farewells to Raptor, Rosabella, Jack, Lollipop, Kate and Timberwolf. One of the released butterflies rested on a nearby rock (below). By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Timber Trail Elementary Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) kindergarten students transformed into animal experts this spring. They were entomologists, paleontologists, mammologists and marine…
Seventh grade teachers (left to right): Caroline Weinberg, Laurie Williamson, Gail Swiryn, Chris Kappler and Amanda Kallach from the Seekers and Expeditioners teams enjoyed their Cuban lunch on April 30. By Susan Helton; photo courtesy of RHMS As the 2018-2019 school year wound down, Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) devoted time to honoring their fantastic…
One of the most anticipated social gatherings in Castle Pines is the Village Castle Pines Garden Club luncheon and fashion show, which was held on May 17 at The Country Club at Castle Pines. The event began at 10 a.m. with socializing and drinks, and the fashion show at 11 a.m., showcasing beautiful clothes from…
Pictured right: Isaac Abramovitz and Mara Powner, both former students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary school, participated in the “senior walk” through the halls of their former elementary school. In the fall, Abramovitz will attend Northwest Prep Academy prior to the U.S. Air Force Academy and Powner will attend California Lutheran University. Article and photo by…
By Lynn Zahorik; photo courtesy of Andrea Noufer “I love hiking, but was not taking the time to schedule it, so I decided to start the club to make me accountable to other people,” stated Castle Pines Hiking Club organizer Andrea Noufer. And so it began. Last month, hiking enthusiasts gathered for the inaugural 5-mile…
Despite the cold weather, enthusiastic DCSM students geared up for a full day of road repairs. The project was one of many landscape projects during their time at Mission: Wolf. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori DCS Montessori seventh and eighth graders received a hands-on experience which left a lasting impact on each…
By Stacie Chadwick My career trajectory over the past 20 years has been long and broad, with years of working full time, staying at home, and everything in between. I’ve learned that all moms are made of the same DNA, so rather than split our differences, I’d like to highlight the things we share. As…
By Bryan Goodland; courtesy photos It is not all that frequent that we in the Castle Pines community come into contact with animals that are common carriers of rabies (skunks, bats, raccoons, foxes and coyotes). However, they are ever present in the vast open spaces that surround us, and they do pose a threat to…
The Village at Castle Pines resident Louise Bowman (front row, far right) celebrated in style with friends at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts Women with Hattitude luncheon. Resident Gayle Raye (left) is pictured here with Ms. Senior America Gayle Novak and Hattitude Chairwoman Pam Sletten (right). By Nancy Koontz; courtesy photos Since 2005,…
Information and photo provided by the Boucher family Congratulations to Jordan Boucher, the 2019 Valor Christian High School valedictorian and a National Merit Scholar. Boucher, a resident of The Village at Castle Pines, excelled at Valor and balanced his academic pursuits with his passion for running cross country, track, climbing 14ers and participating in the…
By Terri Wiebold I have never met a business owner who was not interested in bettering his/her business. For some, “bettering” means increasing revenues and profits and/or decreasing expenses. For others, it may mean elevating their brand. For me, it is about improving the overall experience for everyone involved. As the publisher of The Connection,…
Brooks Gibbs (right) used a game called “Squabbles” to help with conflict resolution. Information and photos provided by American Academy Last month, American Academy (AA)hosted a parent assembly lead by Brooks Gibbs, a well-known speaker who focuses on helping children build emotional resiliency. Approximately 250 parents took part in the evening event. Gibbs also spoke…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of Newspaperarchive.com People and towns came and went in the early days of statehood. Had it not been for an obscure notation on a map, the once thriving town of Lehigh would have been a forgotten Wildcat town. In 1878, coal was a valuable commodity in an industrializing world. When…
Information provided by the Douglas County School District The Douglas County School District (DCSD) Board of Education met in a work session on Tuesday, May 23 to discuss safety and security in DCSD schools. The discussion included a review of DCSD Board Policy ADD: Safe Schools, which addresses a variety of directives ranging from physical…
By Terri Wiebold Invite your neighbors and head down to experience Spoons & Tunes in The Vistas at Park Meadows on Thursday, June 13 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and get an exclusive special Castle Pines neighbor bonus! Park Meadows Retail Resort is hosting a free, family-friendly summer event every Thursday starting June 6…
Article and photos by Celeste McNeil Recently, Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) school held an extravaganza evening billed as “BREXtravaganza.” The building was open to students, parents, grandparents and anyone interested in seeing the amazing happenings at BRE. The main hallways overflowed with masterpieces the students created in art class. The gym, filled with tables, held…
By Patte Smith Did you know that in February Colorado cyclists dominated the world leader board for the 2019 International Winter Bike to Work Day? Wow! More than 3,000 area cyclists rode on a bitter cold day or chose a day a little less bleak for the work day ride. A testament to the importance…
Assistant Principal Jen Murdock surrounded by first, second and third place winners of the annual BRE Science Fair. Article and photos by Celeste McNeil Spring brings experimentation, demonstration and inventions; spring brings the Science Fair! Bufflao Ridge Elementary (BRE) had 67 students from all grades participate in the eighth annual Science Fair. All projects, research…