The Connection

The RCHS varsity level volleyball team at the University of Northern Colorado Greeley team camp, which took place July 20 through 22. Pictured top row left to right: Sophia Sobota (CP), Abbey Lehigh, Abi Leitner (CP), Madison Wurst, Macy Rushall and Rachel Schutte. Middle row left to right: Laryssa Myers (CP), Keeley Davis (CP), Alex…

The Clark family: Twin boys Asher and Braxton with parents Adam and Sarah are residents of Buffalo Ridge Estates. By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos Adam and Sarah Clark, residents of Buffalo Ridge Estates make a great team. Adam is a developer who builds houses, including their own home in Castle Pines. Sarah recently joined forces…

  Article and photo by Lisa Crockett It’s harvest time, and after a trip to the farmers market, my kitchen is a veritable vegetable wonderland. Zucchini and eggplant are sliced and roasted, corn is slapped on the grill and given a slather of butter and a sprinkle of salt. Carrots and cucumbers just get sliced…

  By Michelle Post The Pew Research Center (PRC) is a leading expert in the tracking, analyzing and reporting of data and how it affects an individual. The PRC has been tracking peoples’ internet use since the early 2000s and has reported a significant rise in its use. Every day at least 9-in-10 adults use…

On August 21, Douglas County students and residents flocked outdoors for the partial eclipse. Events were held at schools and the Castle Pines branch at Douglas County Libraries. With glasses in hand, for close to three hours, skywatchers saw a breathtaking sight of the moon slowly passing between the Earth and the sun, blocking approximately…

Carter Brand competed at the Youth Triathlon National Championships at the Ohio event in early August. Brand finished with an impressive eighth place in the competition, which showcases up-and-coming triathletes. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of William Oliva Castle Pines resident and Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) sophomore Carter Brand competed at the Youth…

“You’re talking about a younger generation, Generation Y, whose interpersonal communication skills are different from Generation X. The younger generation is more comfortable saying something through a digital mechanism than even face to face.”   – Erik Qualman By Michelle Post Generation Y surpassed the baby boomers in 2016 as the largest living generation in America…

The RCHS mountain biking team became an official club sport last year, allowing players to earn a varsity letter. Along with neighboring high school teams, RCHS is part of the Highlands Ranch Cycling team, which creates a level of camaraderie often not seen in competitive sports. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Deschane) By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy…

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…

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…

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,…

Mueller State Park offers grand vista viewing of several mountain ranges, a site to behold. Article and photos by Michelle Post Colorado has 42 state parks, and Mueller State Park in Divide claims the title of the second most visited park in the state. Only 45 minutes west of Colorado Springs, visitors can take Hwy…

Fifty RHMS eighth-grade students at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., the first stop on their five-day trip. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Sharon Majetich Since opening its doors in 2003, Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) eighth-grade students have had the opportunity to participate in an end-of-year trip to Washington, D.C. This year’s students…

By Lynne Marsala Basche On May 25, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) held two sessions and met with residents at the Castle Pines Community Center. Public Information Officers Lauren Lekander and Jason Blanchard, along with Crime Lab Manager Tracey Montano hosted the event with a goal to have an open discussion on collaboration and…

From left to right, volunteer Nisha Thiruchelvam (Malaysia) and students Rury Hmaidan (Italy), Jamain Bauer (Germany), Maria Pangalos (USA), Matteo Sahuc (France), and Noemi Giglio (Italy), pose with the Malaysian flag at their AFS orientation camp in the jungles surrounding Kuala Lumpur. Article and photos by Maria Pangalos, RCHS intern writer Junior year of high…

Jane Sanders By Nancy Koontz; photos courtesy of Cathy Kaier and family via Facebook The Castle Pines Village community is one laugh quieter following the passing of Starbuck neighbor and dear friend Jane Kathleen Sanders on May 23. Originally from St. Joseph, Missouri, the Sanders family moved to Colorado where Jane grew up in north…

By Michelle Post “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” — Lao Tzu In a world of “enough is never enough,” it is easy to forget meetings, birthdays, anniversaries and deadlines. However, there is hope to improve one’s daily focus and productivity and decrease stress. The word for the 21st century is…