The Connection

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Created in the 1980s, National Night Out (NNO) is an annual campaign designed to encourage and promote police and community partnerships. The event began as a way to bring neighbors together with each other, as well as with their local police departments. This…

Future Financial Planning for a child who has special needs A free educational presentation organized by the Douglas County Special Education Advisory Committee (DCSEAC) for families with children with special needs will be held on Thursday, September 7 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Rock Canyon High School. Two knowledgeable and professional women who…

The Dream Team at Buffalo Ridge Elementary raised $325 during their “Wear a Hat to School Day for a Dollar” program. The money went toward purchasing an adaptive bike for local resident Kian Lame. Article and photo by Nancy Koontz; photo courtesy of Valerie Miller In April, The Connection shared the story of a 16-year-old…

Church attendance for the grand opening was around 1,100 adults and kids. Going forward Journey Church will offer three Sunday services. By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of Journey Church A joyful congregation celebrated Journey Church’s grand opening on Sunday, August 13 with bounce houses for the kids, a dunk tank and plenty of good eats.…

Alberta Development is requesting the Town of Castle Rock annex 21.7 acres of property on the east side of I-25 (across from its mixed-use development Promenade at Castle Rock) for Promenade Center East, a proposed new project that could include 475 multi-family units and/or 300,000 square feet of commercial development. By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy…

A standing-room-only crowd turned out for the 15th annual Taste of Douglas County on August 17. Participants sampled food from more than 40 restaurants and enjoyed live cooking demonstrations. No one left hungry! By Kathy Fallert; photos provided by Ed Wilkes, GearsetMedia The Douglas County Events Center at the Douglas County Fairgrounds was a buzz…

Dubbed the “Chalk Talk” event, roughly 35 fifth-grade BRE students came out on Wednesday, August 9 to chalk up the sidewalks with welcome messages and school spirit on the night before the school’s first day. Article and photos by Kathy Fallert Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) parent Katie Abner wanted to come up with a way…

By Lynne Marsala Basche When Dakota Wadsack, a sixth-grade student at Sage Canyon Elementary, noticed her 7-year-old brother Jordan choking on a piece of hard candy and he was unable to breathe, the young girl leaped into action and used the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training she learned while in third grade through an innovative program…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of the DDFL On Saturday, August 19, Castle Pines residents Jana and Fred Bartlit hosted the 16th Annual Lulu’s Barkin’ BBQ and welcomed 530 guests to their home for a good cause. Lulu’s BBQ benefits homeless pets and horses at the Denver Dumb Friends League (DDFL). The evening included…

DCSM students got to stand on and move around the National Geographic Traveling Colorado Map while learning mapping skills. The 20’ x 50’ map of Colorado travels the state and is a way to introduce geography and map reading skills to students in an entertaining way. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of DCS Montessori…

Janna Robinett, a business teacher at RCHS, received the Junior Achievement Teacher award in June. By Maria Pangalos; RCHS intern writer;photo courtesy of Janna Robinett Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) business teacher Janna Robinett received the 2017 Junior Achievement (JA) Teacher award at the Denver Country Club on June 22. Stephanie Murphy, senior program manager…

By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of Jeanne Gormley and JJ Rose Jeanne Gormley, a resident of Surrey Ridge, won first place for her photo in the senior division at the 2017 Douglas County Fair. The photo (pictured above) is of Gormley’s daughter Jeanna Ambrose and Cecilia Fries, Ambrose’s granddaughter. Photographed from behind a curtain, 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. Natasha Pulley’s novel, “The Bedlam Stacks” was released on August 1. It…

Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Home canning is a throwback to a time when more of us grew our own food and prepared for a season (like winter) when produce might be hard to come by. Like many things from yesteryear, canning is labor intensive and fraught with the possibility of failure. Still, home…

Linda Treibitz Some of the best local and national talent present short stories during “Stories on Stage”. By Nancy Koontz; photos courtesy of Linda Treibitz Linda Treibitz and her husband Alan, residents of Castle Pines Village, say one of their key passions in life is enjoying and supporting the theater and the arts. Their enthusiasm…

Participants from the National Sports Center for the Disabled learned golf skills at Sanctuary golf course as part of the 30th Annual Hal O’Leary Golf Classic in July. Information and photo provided by Maria Miller The National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) hosted its 30th Annual Hal O’Leary Golf Classic at Sanctuary golf course…

Front row: John and Karla; back row, left to right: Dylan and Morgan (20), Skylar, (18) and Zoe (22). By Elizabeth Wood West; photo courtesy of the Tartz family You may know them as your next-door neighbors, or your kids’ friends, or your mortgage broker, or your local post office store owner – the Tartz…

The orange line represents Daniels Park Road, and the other colors show the different family properties. By Joe Gschwendtner In examining the checkerboard map of Wildcat Mountain homesteaders, an urge springs within to generalize. Many like to draw conclusions to explain what was seen and experienced. By 1900, most of our geography here had been…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce As of August 1, the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce has a new place to call home. The organization relocated from its space near the former Safeway store to another convenient location at the Coldwell Banker Castle Pines building on 482 Happy…

Information provided by Parker Arts An informative discussion on the Rueter-Hess Reservoir will be held on Tuesday, October 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the PACE Center in Parker. Susan Saint Vincent, president of the Rueter-Hess Recreation Authority, will present the history of the Recreation Authority, the regional partnership and how the project has developed until…

Bernie, the Colorado Avalanche mascot, got the under 10-year-old participants ready with stretches and antics before the kid’s fun run. Article and photos by Lynne Marsala Basche August 20 was a gorgeous morning to welcome runners and walkers of both the human and canine variety to Washington Park in Denver for the Cancer League of…

Information provided by Douglas County More than 67,000 students have returned to school in Douglas County, and whether they walk, bike, skate, or drive to school, it takes everyone, including those driving in the vicinity of schools, to ensure they get there safely. The Douglas County School District encourages students to walk, bike or bus…

Information provided by Douglas County School District This is the ninth year of the Douglas County Educational Foundation (DCEF) Lend A Hand Back 2 School Supply Drive. Last year’s effort provided more than 1,500 students with supplies ranging from crayons to composition books. Supplies were collected by 60+ organizations and individuals who contributed to the…

The Shuster family may be the only known case in which a married couple has FSHD on both sides of their family. The couple is involved with the FSH Society and are planning the second annual Walk and Roll to Cure FSHD on September 9 at the Philip S. Miller Park. By Lynne Marsala Basche;…

Article and photos by Patte Smith Surrey Ridge sometimes feels like small-town USA, which is a good thing. Neighbors are friendly and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere at many of the events held at Surrey Ridge Park. On Sunday, July 9, car guys and gals showed off their classic and snazzy vehicles at the third Annual…

National Senior Citizens Day recognizes positive contributions senior citizens make in communities across the U.S. The day was also created to bring awareness of social, health and economic issues that affect senior citizens. Former President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Senior Citizens Day in 1988. It is always celebrated on August 21, which is…

Typically, people think about donating items to food pantries during the holiday season, but summer months find families in need of nutritious food as well. As part of the 9Cares Colorado Shares program, Bringing Hope to the Table boxes can be purchased at King Soopers stores (pictured right), including the location on Lagae Road in…

Maria Pangalos and other exchange students from around the world with the local AFS volunteers breaking fast in the city of Kuala Lumpur in Dataran Merdeka (freedom/national square). During the month of Ramadan, nothing should enter the body from dawn until dusk, so coming together to break fast is a special celebration. Article and photos…

Castle Pines teenager Taylor Rae recorded seven new songs this spring in Nashville. She also made a music video for her single “13 Stripes and 50 Stars,” — to check it out, visit: www.officialtaylorrae.com. By Lisa Crockett; photos courtesy of Taylor Rae Local musician Taylor Rae got her start in performing by singing the national…

Did someone say party? Residents of all ages came out for the 2016 Party in the Park. You are invited once again to partake of the food, fun and fireworks at this annual community event. By Terri Wiebold; courtesy photos Brought to you by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce, The Castle Pines Connection and…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines The Castle Pines City Council is moving to implement recommendations made in the City’s Master Transportation Plan to improve safety and quality of life in Castle Pines. Residents have voiced concerns regarding the speed of vehicles on local roads and the impacts on safety and the character…

By Patte Smith New this season, two sessions of basketball are being offered by Castle Pines Athletics. The fall session runs from October 16 to December 9 with no games on November 20 to 25. Deadline to register for fall basketball is September 25. The winter basketball season is from January 15 to March 10,…

  In addition to the athletes who live and train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, the complex welcomes approximately 130,000 visitors each year and offers guided tours daily. Pictured are Andrew Amayo (left) and Jack Basche (right). Article and photos by Lynne Marsala Basche Olympic enthusiasts may not know the event’s theme song is…

As with each generation there are major events that occur (some horrific, others enjoyable and fun) that can’t help but influence and define a unique attitude and set of values. Although Gen X has been called the lost generation, they are very much alive and kicking. Article and collage by Michelle Post; courtesy photos According…

Information provided by Douglas County Consistent with the Board of Douglas County Commissioners’ commitment to open, transparent and accountable government, the Board retained consultants to conduct an independent survey of Douglas County voters. The survey assessed voter satisfaction with delivery of County services and requested input on the Board’s spending priorities and quality of life…

Article and photo 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. “You don’t always get to know what happened, or…

By Michelle Post On a recent visit to Walmart, I was surprised to see the school supply display. I could not believe it was already that time of the summer. I remember going school supply shopping with my mom and picking out my new pencils, crayons, paper, folders, glue and more. As I thought about…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Mandy Krause Pictured left to right: Neighbors and friends Matt Carlson, Jason Krause, Mandy Krause, Amy Carlson, Louise Melbye and Scott Melbye enjoyed the evening of July 3 at The Country Club at Castle Pines Fire Cracker Scramble Golf Tournament. The six-person nine-hole scramble included unique rules for…

​ The Rausch family are MCT alumni and performed as merchants and farmers in “Jack and the Beanstalk.” By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of Dave Tweed On Saturday, July 22, children from Castle Pines brought the characters from the classic story of “Jack and the Beanstalk” to life. The Missoula Children’s Theatre production included weeklong…

Dr. Jason Ortman and Dr. Jamie Anderson of Castle Pines Eye Care are giving back globally by partnering with the OneSight organization to help bring a temporary eye care clinic to Mexico and a sustainable eye care clinic to Zambia, Africa. Both doctors plan to offer their services for future international trips. By Kathy Fallert;…

By Michelle Post; photo courtesy of Barb Findlay In true patriotic fashion and celebrating our nation’s independence for the Fourth of July weekend, Castle Pines Parkway was lined with five crisp, beautiful American flags. Special thanks to Gary Leiker with RE/MAX Professionals for presenting the idea to the city council and for donating the flags…

Information provided by Tri-County Health Department On Saturday, August 12, 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. Many common products found in your home such as oil-based paint, mercury, gasoline, degreasers, cleaning…

By Lisa Crockett If you are a human being alive on the planet today, there is a good chance you have some sort of obsolete computer or electronic equipment somewhere in your house. A law passed four years ago in an effort to encourage recycling of so called “e-waste” (think computers, monitors, televisions and cellphones).…

Resident artist Jerod Anderson free-handed a chalk drawing of the Statue of Liberty on the sidewalk outside King Soopers a few years ago and has created chalk drawings at several Castle Pines community events in recent years. Anderson will be doing an exhibition piece at the Chalk It Up 4 Charity event at Elk Ridge…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines; photo by Paul Masovero At a time when it feels like development may be taking over the community, it is breathtaking drives like this one just west of the Wildcat Mountain Trail parking lot on Monarch Boulevard (looking west) that remind us of the beautiful dedicated open…

By Terri Wiebold Have you had any tattoos or body piercings within the past 12 months? Have you spent three months or more in the United Kingdom from 1980 to present? Have you traveled outside the United States within the past 12 months? Are you currently under a doctor’s care for surgery or an illness?…

By Terri Wiebold; photos courtesy of The Country Club at Castle Pines The Country Club at Castle Pines (CCCP) has a new twist on an old favorite, happy hour! Members bring their dogs to accompany them on the social lawn for “yappy hour” where they frolic in puppy pools and enjoy treats alongside their owners.…

Information provided by Guaranty Bank The holding company for Guaranty Bank and Trust Company announced in June the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire the holding company for Castle Rock Bank. Following the closing of the transaction, Castle Rock Bank will be merged into Guaranty Bank and Trust and all Castle Rock Bank branches…

Jane Jenkins, TTE B.A.S.E. program team leader, contributed to the program’s success and high-performance standards, which resulted in a COA honor. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Janie Ino Recently, the Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) Before and After School Enterprise (B.A.S.E.) program received honors for its hard work and dedication to the students, parents,…

By Michelle Post I have been a fan and user of Google Alerts since its inception in 2003 and have found it to be very useful in my business. This free tool is a great way to track online activity about you, your brand, your product or your industry. Here is how it works –…

Six TTE families worked together to pack food bags for almost 70 families in need. Individualized lists were used to gather food items for Fresh Harvest. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Anna Spitzer Castle Pines resident Anna Spitzer and her family actively volunteer in the community. Last year, Spitzer approached Timber Trail Elementary…

Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Grilling really is the perfect way to prepare food. It’s fast, it produces delicious results and it cleans up with a minimum of fuss. The moment the mercury on the thermometer rises above 75 degrees, the grill is my go-to for delicious and fast meal prep. All summer we…

Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik Underneath the blanket of blue skies and mild temperatures, area runners took stride on the golf paths of The Ridge at Castle Pines North golf course for the inaugural “Run The Ridge 5K” event on Sunday June 25. Nearly 100 runners of all ages enjoyed the rare opportunity to…

Diagram (from Nasa.gov) showing the Earth-sun-moon geometry of a total solar eclipse. By Lynne Marsala Basche; courtesy photos On Monday, August 21, enthusiastic skywatchers in North America are in for a treat; a total solar eclipse. During a solar eclipse, the moon slowly passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking all or part of…

WFS President, Ranee Wilson (right) pictured with Jon Hulme (left), operating partner for Kneaders in Lone Tree. By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos Wholesome Food Services (WFS) began six years ago as a grassroots efforts of parents and nutrition experts in Colorado to offer a convenient and unique lunch program for schools. Their mission is to…

By Amanda Merriman During the past few years, the idea of mindfulness has been omnipresent in our culture. For instance, there is a pilot program on mindfulness for students and teachers at Bear Creek Elementary here in Douglas County. Workplace wellness sessions can be found in many businesses, and classes geared toward aging gracefully through…

Squire in front of the Taj Mahal in India as part of Semester at Sea. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Sydney Squire Sydney Squire of Forest Park set sail in January for a journey that would last more than 100 days and take her to 13 countries. Squire is a nutrition major at the…

A bento box lunch is both tasty, beautiful and anything but boring. By Lisa Crockett It hardly seems possible, but this month school is back in session. Laid-back meal schedules and snacking with no particular agenda is out, and structured mealtimes are back in. It’s not all bad news. A little planning and creativity can…

By Patte Smith The Castle Pines community has many homeowner associations (HOAs) and each one handles trash removal and recycling independently for its members. There are three primary waste companies serving the City of Castle Pines and the communities of Castle Pines Village, Happy Canyon, Surrey Ridge, and other unincorporated areas in the 80108 ZIP…

Jack Dreyfuss earned his Eagle Scout ranking in April, and his love of scouting and art led him to create his final community-related service project, which was building 15 easels for Shiloh House. Dreyfuss (center) had the help of friends and other scouts working on his project. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Jack…

The Colorado snow did not stop the crew of “Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford” from building and filming an amazing backyard makeover of the Sethi home in Castle Pines. Above center, left to right, Gautam and Monica Sethi, winners of the “Backyard Paradise 2017” contest, show producer Chelsea Lipford Wolf and home improvement expert Danny…

The Gruenhaupt family at Nathan’s commissioning ceremony in CSU Fort Collins on May 12. Pictured from left to right: brother Jacob, father Darin, Nathan, mother Jenny and brother Sam. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Nathan Gruenhaupt Castle Pines resident and Douglas County High School graduate class of 2012, Nathan Gruenhaupt graduated on May 13…

By Lisa Crockett It’s a great time of year to stock up on fruits and veggies at the farmers market, and if you’re a gardener, it’s likely that the first evidence of your hard labor is beginning to make an appearance at the dinner table. It’s a delicious time of year, and a healthful one,…