Read the stories from the latest issue:
By Michelle Post, Ph.D. Have you ever been expecting an important letter, but you never received it? Or were you waiting for a package, but the email notification said it was delivered? Thanks to advances in technology, there are gadgets, apps and services to help. Peekaboo, I see you (and can now talk to you)…
Article by Nancy Koontz; photo courtesy of René Green; pageant photo courtesy of Shelly Au On May 26, twelve contestants ages 60-95 will compete for the title of 2018 Ms. Colorado Senior America at the 24th annual pageant. Behind the scenes capturing the beauty of it all through the lens of her camera will be…
By Kathy Fallert; photos by Kathy Fallert and courtesy of Laura Mankin Buffalo Ridge Elementary held a birthday blow out on Saturday, April 14 in honor of the school’s two decades in action. Kids enjoyed playing games for prizes, silent and live auctions were held complete with a fast-talking auctioneer, and a delicious barbecue lunch…
Squires joined Representative Wist and his aide Patty at the speaker’s podium. Article and photos submitted by Emma Kate Squires, RHMS eighth-grade student Colorado’s Association for Gifted and Talented each year hosts a Legislative Day, held the Thursday after Presidents Day. This is a day when students identified as gifted have an opportunity to go…
Sarah Gonzalez sees no limits. “There’s no limits to where you can go, what you can do.” By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Sarah Gonzalez Castle Pines resident Sarah Gonzalez, better known as Sarah G., has had the passion to create since childhood. As a five-year-old, after listening to adults complain about their jobs at…
Rock Canyon High School students Ellianna Lederman and Brad Hansen and Holocaust survivor, Lone Tree resident Jack Adler (center). Article and photo by Daniel Williams On March 27, Holocaust survivor Jack Adler stood before a packed house in the auditorium at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) and recounted his story, a story he has told…
Coach Brian Tinker doing the honors at the ribbon cutting ceremony on April 12 in the brand new RCHS weight room with Coach A.J. Article and photos by Alec Sutula, RCHS intern writer “Let’s get to work. Hit the racks,” said Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) football coach Brian Tinker. This time though the atmosphere…
The last few months have been an exciting time of change and growth for The Connection. In addition to our new branding, which we launched in January, we have had several new talented individuals join our staff. Please join us in welcoming them. Visit www.castlepinesconnection.com/pages/staff/staff to read complete bios on all of our amazing team!…
RCHS students and families welcomed eight students from France on February 2 as part of a three-week exchange program. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Alexis Savas Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) students and families welcomed eight students and one teacher from France on February 2 for three weeks as part of a French exchange…
BRE second grader, Evan Ingalls pictured with his parents, took second in state at the Peak 2 Peak State Wrestling Tournament on February 23 in Castle Rock. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Kory Ingalls Second-grader at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) and Castle Pines resident Evan Ingalls took second place in the eight-year-old and 95.1…
The RCHS boys basketball team on March 3 at the Great 8 game where they beat Overland High School 54-47, taking them into the Final 4 for the second consecutive year. By Jack Hibbett, RCHS intern writer; photos courtesy of Lukas Makikali and Andy Abner On November 29, 2017, another amazing season for Coach Kent…
Tasha Verebelyi repels down 1600 Glenarm Place as part of the Cancer League of Colorado’s annual Over the Edge event. By Daniel Williams; photos courtesy of Tasha Verebelyi On a sunny September day in 2016, Castle Pines resident Tasha Verebelyi held tight to a rope that held her in place nearly 400 feet above the…
By Danial Williams As people age, they are often faced with decisions to make about their housing situation. They can downsize or find a single-story home to accommodate any current or potential physical limitations or even consider moving closer to the kids and grandkids to have family nearby. But what about those who want to…
By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Wade Coleman Friday, February 23 marked the annual Daddy Daughter Dance at Buffalo Ridge Elementary. With a theme of “I loved her first,” dads and their girls had fun dancing, snacking and getting silly in the photo booth. The evening was rounded out with kid crafts, flowers and lots…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Rock Canyon High School Congratulations to Castle Pines resident Carter Brand! Brand finished in 37th place among the Junior Men (ages 16-19) at the North American Triathlon Championships, (which includes Mexico and Canada) in Sarasota, Florida on March 10. He finished in eighth place amongst the United State’s…
Information provided by Douglas County Did you know that disposing of branches and shrubbery properly not only helps to mitigate properties for wildland fire prevention, but also is good for the environment? Douglas County’s slash-mulch site at 1400 Caprice Drive in Castle Rock opens April 7 and will remain open on Saturdays from 8 a.m.…
Cathedral Square in Vilnius was the start of a human chain “The Baltic Way”– more than 2,000,000 people linked by hand to the Baltic Sea demonstrating solidarity of their suffering under the USSR. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner Lithuania is the southernmost and most populous of the three Baltic Republics. Like her neighbors, she…
Information provided by Douglas County Despite the snow fall in recent weeks, Stage 1 fire restrictions remain 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…
Rock Canyon High School students from the Student Safety Alliance (left to right): Sophomore Maddie Provost (16), junior Molly Steavpack (17), senior Maria Pangalos (17) and senior Lily Jackman (17) hold up a sign expressing solidarity with the victims of the recent tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, filled with signatures from their fellow…
From left to right, Missy Salum, John Conti, Audrey Will, Joe Sabia and Donnie Salum. The Salums are the owners of Fitness Gallery and donated a spin cycle to help raise money at the event, which Ms. Will won in a lottery. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Nicole McGarvey On March 15, the…
Cultivating the arts By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo by Lynn Zahorik In 2009, the Castle Pines Arts and Cultural Foundation (CPACF) began as a committee to help establish a library in Castle Pines. Funds were raised for the first storefront library and, eventually, the new standalone facility. Throughout that time, the organization grew to a…
Information provided by TurboTax Knowing when and what you have to file can save you a lot of headaches at tax time. To avoid paying penalties, mark your calendar with the following important tax deadlines. Individual tax returns due for tax year 2017 – E-file or postmark your individual tax returns by midnight April 18,…
Article and photo by Lisa Crocket Eggs are an important part of my diet. They’re almost miraculous: cheap, tasty, nutritious and fast. With the notable exception of a period when I dedicated myself to strict paleo eating, and therefore eggs for breakfast almost every day, I almost never tire of eggs. Most weeks, eggs land…
Competing in January, BRE’s DI team (pictured from left to right) back row: Morgan Busten, Isaac Hughes, parent Kate Binning, Maddie Kasal, Blake Cartwright, Joey Sabia; front row: Christina Sabia and Jake Binning. By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Jennie Cartwright Led by parent and Castle Pines resident, Kate Binning, the Buffalo Ridge Elementary’s (BRE)…
Information provided by the Douglas County Parenting Coalition and The Family Tree In Colorado, more than 100,000 children live with a relative, family friend or other non-parent. For some children this arrangement may be temporary, for others it will be permanent. Does your shared kinship family feel happily blended…or do family members feel they have…
By Michelle Post There are books, blogs, websites and apps all about how to learn to let go of the things cluttering our lives. Spring cleaning is not just for your home but also for your office. And it is not just for your physical office but your digital office, too. It is easy to…
Information provided by the Castle Pines North Master Association Fiction, nonfiction, young adult and children’s books will be available at the Castle Pines North Master Association annual book swap on Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the community center, located at 7404 Yorkshire Drive. The book swap…
Information provided by the Castle Pines North Master Association The CPN Master Homeowners Association is hosting a CPN Metro District board candidate forum on Monday, April 9 at 6 p.m. at the Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines, located at 360 Village Square Lane. There are ten candidates vying for four positions on the board…
By Lisa Crockett Spring is finally here, bringing with it a fresh crop of veggies and fruits just perfect for healthy, seasonal eating. Summer’s overflowing bounty isn’t here yet, but there are treasures to be found in the springtime, including a few that even adventurous eaters sometimes overlook. Here are a few of April’s best,…
By Terri Wiebold Join Denver metro area running enthusiasts for the annual Cherry Creek Sneak in the heart of Denver’s Cherry Creek district on Sunday, April 22 at 7 a.m. Runners and walkers participate in the10-mile, 5-mile, and 3.1-mile (5K). There’s even a half-mile Kids’ Fun Run for kids ages 8 and younger, and Diaper…
So far in 2018, 32 animals from Colorado have tested positive for rabies – mostly in skunks. Information and photo provided by Tri-County Health Department The Colorado Department of Agriculture and Tri-County Health Department have confirmed that an alpaca in Douglas County has died due to a rabies infection. Pet owners are urged to check…
Pictured left to right, Elizabeth Metz of Forest Park, Patty Trombley, Eleanor Baribault and Cindy Keller of Rochester, New York. Through a genealogy website, Metz learned that Patty and Cindy are her third cousins and that Patty also owns Rhoda spoons. Article and photos by Lisa Nicklanovich Elizabeth Metz of Forest Park was recently going…
Information provided by Douglas County The Board of Douglas County Commissioners recently approved four call-when-needed air support contracts, including one with Rampart Helicopter Services for wildland fire suppression. “This time of year, we understand the importance of having every precaution in place to protect our communities should a wildfire occur,” said County Commissioner Roger Partridge.…
RCHS students Sarah Bermingham, Alana Graves and Kira Hartz help raise money for RCHS wish week by participating in the school’s newest fundraiser, the walk for wishes. Article and photos by Sarah Bermingham, RCHS intern writer Rock Canyon High School’s (RCHS) wish week is always one of the best weeks of the year. The event…
By Amanda Merriman Connection writer Amanda Merriman admits she is hopelessly addicted to books. It has been this way nearly all her life. Every month she shares what she has been reading with the hope that others will share in the obsession too. Dear readers, my most recent read has left me spent. “The Power,”…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori DCS Montessori (DCSM) teacher and Castle Pines resident Ryoko Fusatani’s fourth through sixth grade classes hosted their fifth annual International Tea Party with tea, goodies, and a bit of cultural immersion into European countries like Ireland, Norway, Ukraine, Austria, Belgium and Germany, to name a few.…
Access to more than 48,000 acres of protected open space, hundreds of miles of trails, three state parks and the Pike National Forest add to Douglas County residents’ quality of life. Information and photo provided by Douglas County Congratulations residents of Douglas County – you live in the Colorado County ranked healthiest in the state.…
Lily Schmoker as hard-hitting journalist, Gloria Thorpe in the Rock Canyon production of “Damn Yankees.” By Elizabeth Rector; photos courtesy of Rock Canyon High School Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) junior Lily Schmoker is known throughout the community as a multifaceted, talented teen. Recently, Schmoker took to the stage as Gloria Thorpe, in the RCHS…
Castle Pines interim city manager Michael Penny (left) and Castle Pines North Metro District manager Jim Nikkel (right) met recently at Duke’s Steakhouse for lunch to discuss how the two entities can work together in best serving the residents of Castle Pines. The City Council and the Metro District board will meet later this month…
On February 24, Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) hosted the Daddy Daughter Masquerade Ball. Guests came dressed in their finest masquerade attire and were even able to purchase masks at the event. The annual tradition is a beloved TTE event.
The RHMS MathCounts team participated at the regional math competition on February 3 at Sturm Hall at the University of Denver. Top Row (from left to right): Aspen Shih, Cynthia Du, Jessica Wang, Bhavya Surapaneni, Jamie Kim, Mimi Telford. Bottom Row (from left to right): Max Xu, Joshua Ruegge, Anthony Chui, Esvaran Selvaganapathy Arun and…
Brandon and Lisa Linn and their children, Kennedy, Harper and Cooper in a family photo taken after Lisa had been diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Lisa nominated her husband Brandon to be a 2018 Pink Tie Guy at the Susan G. Komen Pink Tie Affair. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of the Linn family…
Part two of three By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of Cherokee Ranch & Castle Last month, we tracked the history of the Cherokee Castle and Ranch after Tweet Kimball acquired it in 1954. Indeed, her impact on virtually everything she touched and those she encountered was outsized. Comfortable in rugged ranch hand garb or equally…
Emily Johnson and her Colorado Children’s Chorale group had the opportunity to visit Vail and work with children. The group travels locally, nationally and internationally. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Jill Johnson Four years ago, Castle Pines resident Jill Johnson read an article in The Connection about Denver’s award winning Colorado Children’s Chorale…
By Amanda Merriman Do you like craft beer? There is surely a market for it here in our state. According to the Brewers Association, Colorado ranks second in the nation for its number of breweries. The craft beer scene will continue to grow, with numerous breweries expected to open around the state in 2018, as…
Mitch McGaughey knows the vagaries of beekeeping: from bear attacks to dealing with swarms to harvesting honey. Pictured above, McGaughey’s oldest daughter, Hannah places frames in a newly-painted honey super for the bees to put honey in. Last fall, McGaughey’s Italian Bees finally produced enough honey to sell. A bear attack on the hives meant…
This year, 29 Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) students participated in the Kids Expo Art Show. Students from kindergarten through fifth grade represented the school with mediums ranging from clay to melted crayon. TTE artists will be gearing up for the annual Douglas County School District art show the week of April 5 through 10. By…
Castle Pines residents Molly Tanaka (pictured above center) and Zach Shadwick (pictured below) find the program a great opportunity to learn and enjoy playing music with friends. The Castle Pines Arts & Cultural Foundation was pleased to host the “Save the Music!” event on February 9. In conjunction with the Colorado Chamber Orchestra’s Early Instrumental…
The Rock Canyon High School girls swim and dive team won the continental A-league championship for the third consecutive year and went on to come in 6th place at the 5A state competition. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Nicole Vanderpoel For the third year in a row, the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) girls…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Anna Mallinson Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) kindergarten and first-grade students celebrated the 100th day of the 2017-2018 school year in a variety of fun and engaging ways. Students built castles with 100 cups, made necklaces with 100 Fruit Loops and beads and had a challenging time transferring 100…
Information provided by Douglas County While the more than 243,000 registered voters in Douglas County will not notice a difference in their vote-by-mail experience, beginning with this year’s 2018 Primary Election, County officials responsible for conducting and delivering the election will recognize the County’s investment in the new ClearVote™ ballot processing software as an improvement…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos High school student-athletes all over the country signed letters of intent to play their sport at the collegiate level on Wednesday, February 7. åOf the 1000 or so athletes who signed letters of intent in Colorado, approximately 125 are Douglas County School District students. We commend all the student-athletes and…
There is an ever-aging yet very active population of individuals in Douglas County entering the next chapter of their lives. Whether transitioning to empty nesters, retiring from the corporate world, caring for elderly family members, or just turning the page to see what is to come in their life’s journey, readers are asking for more…
AA Boys and girls show off their shoes, sans socks, for the final day of the “Sock it to ‘em” sock drive on January 26. By Liz Rector; photo courtesy of American Academy Many would be surprised to learn that the most requested item of clothing from the nearly 45,000 homeless children in Colorado is…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of DCS Montessori Upper Elementary students at DCS Montessori (DCSM) took part in a chilly adventure in February. The fourth through sixth-grade classes visited the U.S. National Ice Core Laboratory (NICL) in Lakewood. The NICL is a facility for storing, curating and studying ice core samples from around the…
By Amanda Merriman Connection writer Amanda Merriman admits she is hopelessly addicted to books. It has been this way nearly all her life. Every month she shares what she has been reading with the hope that others will share in the obsession too. It is always a delight when I get to read works from…
By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Corin Meibos Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) Principal John Veit made some meeting time with Terra Shaffner’s second-grade class on Monday, February 5. Veit happened to be in Schaffner’s classroom when the students were working on a writing piece about birthdays and talked to some of the kids about their…
Part one of three By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of John Lake and Meg Anderson Were there a Colorado Mt. Rushmore, Tweet Kimball’s profile might well be chiseled there. Born in 1914 Tennessee, where women wielded limited political power, Bryn Mawr-educated Mildred Genevieve Montague “Tweet” Kimball never got the message. After acquiring Charlford Castle in…
Caucus meetings for Republicans and Democrats will be held Tuesday, March 6 at 7 p.m. at various locations throughout Douglas County. Visit www.dcgop.org or www.douglasdemocrats.org for locations and additional information.
Avid book reader and local resident Suzi Scott poses for a picture with Cynthia Swanson at a release party on Feb 6 for Swanson’s new book, “The Glass Forest.” Scott presented Swanson with a copy of The Connection that includes the review of Swanson’s newest work. By Amanda Merriman; photo courtesy of Suzi Scott Suzi…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Crock-Pots, generally a pretty ho-hum kitchen tool, have been making headlines lately due to their involvement in the (fictional) tragedy that took the life of a (fictional) popular family man on NBC’s hit drama series “This is Us.” For their part, the Crock-Pot company seems to have taken the…
Information provided by Douglas County Libraries Brought to you by Page to Stage productions, this year’s opening performance of “Peter Pan,” the classic fantasy tale of a faraway land, pirates, and a boy unwilling to grow up, will be hosted by Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines in partnership with the Front Range Theater Company.…
Cultivating future leaders By Lynne Marsala Basche During her high school years in South Dakota, YouthRoots founder Lacey Books participated in a basic leadership program. When Books was out of school and looked back on the experience, she realized how beneficial it would be to have been able to apply those lessons and skills right…
A sweeping view of Sandstone Ranch, the 2,038 acre, newly acquired, Douglas County Open Space property featuring scenic red rock formations, rocky ridges, forested hillsides and meandering creeks and ponds. Information provided by Douglas County One of the largest and most historic properties in Colorado, located along the foothills between Denver and Colorado Springs, is…
By Kira Zizzo, RHMS intern writer; photos courtesy of Camille Leach At Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS), the seventh-grade Adventurers team learned the ins and outs of first aid and how to apply their newfound knowledge in case of an emergency. The skills the students learned are crucial in that they could save someone’s life…
By Lisa Crockett Proponents of vegetarianism often tout “Meatless Monday” as a way to get a proverbial “taste” of what a vegetarian lifestyle might feel like. Whether or not you’re looking to make a switch to vegetarianism, however, the occasional meatless meal is a great way to make meals healthier and more interesting. Here are…
Information provided by the CPACF The Castle Pines Arts and Cultural Foundation is looking for volunteer board members to work in helping bring art and cultural opportunities to the greater Castle Pines community. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) that sponsors events like authors and art presentations, musical performances, scholarships and summer children’s theatre. If you…
By Amanda Merriman The Castle Pines community certainly has a lot of talent within the city. One such talent is resident E. B. Mann, author of a young adult novel named “Karina.” (Read a review of “Karina” on page 21.) I recently had the opportunity to speak with Mann, which is a pseudonym, and learned…
By Michelle Post I know what you’re thinking, “What the heckfire! I don’t even want to think about being hit by a bus.” Me neither; however, I learned about this concept from a colleague. She told me that everyone in her department was so specialized if anyone were sick it would affect the day’s productivity…
Information courtesy of Tri-County Health Department Tri-County Health Department has opened a new birth and death certificates office in Castle Rock at 410 South Wilcox Street, located one block south of the Wilcox and Plum Creek Parkway. A certified copy of a birth certificate is needed for passport applications, many school activities, and to apply…