Read the stories from the latest issue:
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 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…
By Amanda Merriman My seven-year-old daughter and I were looking for a way to pass the time during my 10-year-old’s soccer practice. An hour can feel like an eternity to a seven-year-old. Luckily, I remembered I downloaded an app called Sandbox to try. Sandbox is a color by numbers game that will entertain people of…
A Western Bluebird. Western Bluebirds perch or flutter among branches to take berries. By Susan Helton; Mountain Bluebird photo by Dick Vogel, courtesy of the Colorado Bluebird Project; Western Bluebird photo courtesy of Barbara Spagnuolo. Returning bluebirds are one sure sign of spring. In the Castle Pines and Castle Rock areas, birders have even spotted…
Information provided by the National Institute on Aging and Douglas County With winter’s return, the colder temperatures in Colorado bring some particular risks for older adults and people with chronic conditions. Older adults can lose body heat faster than when they were younger, and changes in their bodies can make it more difficult to be…
By Daniel Williams; photos by Terri Wiebold and courtesy of John Basche and Hutch Tibbetts In February, the City of Castle Pines celebrated its tenth birthday old school-style with a party hosted by the Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines. Complete with pin the city on the state, an “original businesses” cake walk, a community…
Article by Kathy Fallert with courtesy photos Friday, January 26 was a wild and crazy night at Buffalo Ridge Elementary as the school hosted its annual mother and son Nerf wars at the school. Cardboard barricades, safety goggles and lots of foam bullets were provided for the evening’s entertainment. Numerous participants brought their weapons of…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Lisa Storey Lisa Storey opened Little Italy’s dining room on January 31 to volunteers from the Gameday 14 U Angels Baseball team. The group put together 3,000 goodie bags for the Zackari Parrish 5K Run/Walk #BackTheBlue event. The sold-out February 3 race at the Douglas County Event…
Article and photo by Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of Latvia.eu Sandwiched between Estonia and Lithuania, Latvia accommodates some 2 million people. Like Estonia, her terrain is rich in natural beauty, thickly forested with rolling plains. But for capital Riga with a million inhabitants, Latvia is otherwise a country of small towns and villages. In a…
By Daniel Williams Whether you are looking to buy or sell a home in 80108 this year, you are likely to find an interesting dynamic at play – a historically low inventory in the metro Denver area that is impacting housing sales throughout the region. How tight is the housing crunch? Consider in the past…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Anna Mallinson On a chilly January evening, Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) students braved the weather at Rink at the Rock to help raise money to purchase playground items and gym equipment. A portion of all ticket sales and skate rentals were given back to TTE.
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori Courtesy of the Google Expeditions Virtual Reality program, DCS Montessori (DCSM) students had a unique opportunity to have several field trips brought to their classroom as opposed to having to venture outside of Castle Pines. The virtual reality tools took students around the world, including visits…
BRE’s top 15 spellers (pictured from left to right) Palmer W., Joey S., Colton R., Lana C., Katherine S., Mia L., Lila O., winner Emily R., Simon H., Riley C., Kyle D., runner up Gavin R., Milena A., Kasen L. and Isaac H. battled it out in the school’s gym on January 26. Article and…
Troop 91 (left to right) back row: Amelia S., Izze P., Tori G., Morgan M., Sophie A., Natalie X., Lillian F. and Kate S.; front row: Aimee B. and Chloe F. (Not pictured: Sienna D. and Taylor D.) By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Jennifer Greer American Academy (AA) Girl Scout Junior Troop 91 braved…
The map shows the proposed Amendment 5 planned usage areas in the RidgeGate Development District. Amendment 5 has not yet been approved. By Patte Smith Construction of the end-of-line RTD light rail station parking garage and rail tracks continues to move forward with completion planned for early 2019. Currently, new water main lines are being…
Michael Penny Information provided by the City of Castle Pines The City of Castle Pines is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Penny as interim city manager. City council approved a city management agreement with Penny during a special meeting on Friday, February 16 and his first day with the organization was Tuesday, February…
Canyons Community Church 4825 North Crowfoot Valley Road, Castle Rockwww.canyonscc.org Easter services: April 1 at 9:30 a.m. (traditional) and 11:00 a.m. (contemporary), with nursery and Canyons Kidz Sunday School offered during the 11:00 a.m. hour. Castle Oaks Covenant Church 826 Park Street, Castle Rockwww.castleoaks.org Easter Sunday worship services: April 1 at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Amy Shanahan Community residents gathered on January 31 along with Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce members and representatives from Lennar for the official ribbon cutting of the Lennar at Castle Valley development at the southwest corner of Lagae Road and Castle Pines Parkway. Guests toured the new model…
Rock Canyon High School biotech research students Kylie Hutchison (left) and Madison Dittmer (right) study cancer cells using the new EVOS FL microscope, which is a cell imaging system that combines precision optics, high resolution display and a highly sensitive monochrome camera. Article and photo by RCHS intern writer Sarah Bermingham Rock Canyon High School…
By Lynne Marsala Basche If you are a person who does not use glasses or wear contact lenses, you may not think about getting yearly eye exams. However, eyes can begin to experience age-related changes in our early 40s, and as we continue to age, the possibility of developing eye disease increases, which is why…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Anna Mallinson The American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart event has become a much-loved tradition at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE), and once again, this past February, students participated in the campaign to raise money and awareness for heart health. February is American Heart Month, and TTE students…
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…
Pictured back row, left to right:: Dana Hall (Premier Home Loans), Jeff Douglas (MountainStorm Insurance), Whitney Shank (Chamber events director), Greg Segal (Stone Segal Wealth Management Group), Kerri Morgan (Douglas County Libraries), Steve Peterson (Christian Brothers Automotive), and Joe Roos (Hide in Plain Sight). Front row, left to right: Karin Miller (Chamber finance director), Stacie…
By Michelle Post Reciprocity in business has long been expressed in tangible forms (i.e., hand-written thank you notes, the giving and receiving of business cards at networking events and coupons for customer loyalty, to name a few.). As technology changes, businesses that want a competitive edge must adapt and evolve, and increasing customer engagement in…
Article and photo by Nancy Koontz Blending a family is like blending a fine wine. Both require patience, passion and love, and both have been the focus for Steve and Laura Durie since they met three-and-a-half years ago. It was match.com that brought the singles together for lunch; a lunch that would last seven hours…
Residents lined the interstate on January 5 along with South Metro Rescue firefighters on the Castle Pines overpass to honor and pay their respects to Deputy Parrish. By Lynne Marsala Basche; information provided by the Town of Castle Rock; photos courtesy of Kathy Fallert and Catherine Van Houten On December 31, 2017, the Castle Pines…
By Terri Wiebold A heartfelt thanks goes out to those who have shown your support of The Connection by mailing in your voluntary subscriptions. We are humbled by the response and appreciate your participation. We especially enjoy reading your comments and feedback about how we are doing as your community newspaper. The Castle Pines Arts…
By Daniel Williams Contrary to recent claims being made on social media platforms, the former Safeway location in the city of Castle Pines will NOT become a cannabis grow operation. The Connection received several inquiries about the rumorings, so we reached out to city officials for further explanation of local marijuana laws and to clear…
Information provided by Douglas County As we head into the height of flu season, the health department is reminding residents that it is not too late to get a flu shot. When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu spreads through our community. “Flu activity increased sharply recently in Colorado, with more than…
Article and photos by Daniel Williams For many in the 80108 ZIP code, hiking means getting in a car and hopping on I-70 or I-25 and driving an hour or more to a rugged trailhead for a day of gut-busting, adrenaline-pumping exercise. But most people do not have the time nor the inclination to make…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Anna Mallinson On January 17, Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) opened its doors to family, friends and the community for a showcase to highlight what the students have been doing the first half of the year. The event was a school-wide opportunity for students to display and present their…
Homes in the Cherokee Castle story, from hardscrabble homesteads to castles for society minions. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner In 1879, the Kansas Hansborough clan settled on East Plum Creek near Sedalia. John Blunt, husband of Mary Hansborough, sent his family to await him in Colorado while he drove cattle from Kansas. When reunited…
Information provided by CDOT Car Seats Colorado is reminding parents and caregivers that bulky winter coats pose a danger to children riding in car seats and should not be worn underneath the harness. While it may seem counterintuitive (who wouldn’t bundle their child up when it is freezing outside?), strapping your child into his…
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. When I read second novels of authors I admire, I often do…
Congratulations once again to Bruce Cochrane for being selected as The Connection’s Cutest Pet in the Pines for 2017. Bruce was happy to receive his gift basket containing treats, toys and gift certificates to Happy Tails, The Pet Stuff Place and As You Wish Pet Sitters. Runners up Carmel Calfee and Abby Maday also each…
Information provided by the Douglas County School District The Douglas County School District (DCSD) is seeking its next permanent superintendent. The DCSD Board of Education has selected Ray and Associates (no relation to DCSD Board Director, David Ray) to conduct the search for the next superintendent, following a thorough vetting of potential search firms. In order to…
Do you know someone who deserves to be included on the Douglas County Fair Foundation’s Wall of Honor? The Wall of Honor is reserved for distinguished citizens of Douglas County who are dedicated to preserving the rural heritage of the County and have demonstrated a high level of service and long-standing commitment to the operation,…
This photo is taken looking east on Happy Canyon Road at the intersection of the newly-constructed Lagae Road, expected to open by the end of February. The inset photo is taken from Lagae Road looking south toward Happy Canyon Road. As of press time, the roadway was not yet open for public traffic. Update and…