Read the stories from the latest issue:
By Lynne Marsala Basche The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and the Douglas County Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition have teamed up to ask for help preventing teen substance use and the potential for teen-related DUI crashes and deaths. The Party Patrol will be in force during breaks and holidays when the likelihood of kids…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Laurie Jacobs Fall could not be ushered in without football games, pumpkin-flavored everything, colorful trees and, of course, the annual Turweston Lane Chili Cook Off. The eighth annual event was held September 24, and despite cold, rainy weather that forced participants to relocate to the HOA2 clubhouse, the…
Information provided by the Douglas/Elbert Task Force and the Crisis Center Sponsorship for the Douglas/Elbert Task Force (Task Force) Santa’s Sharing holiday adopt-a-family program has declined over the past few years, and the Task Force is asking the community for much-needed help. “Our sponsor numbers have decreased every year for the last five years,” said…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Anna Mallinson Each year, Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) has a fundraising event, and this year, students and teachers participated in a move-a-thon in late September. Students spent time outside rotating through a series of stations, including jump ropes, step ups, tire rolling, as well as the much anticipated…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Last year, my family and I went out for Thanksgiving dinner. There, I said it. As a dedicated home cook, I feel a little like a traitor to the cause, but going out for Thanksgiving was, in a word, awesome. No prep work, no piles of dishes, no mess.…
Deputy Jason Blanchard (left) and Sergeant Jeff Miller (right) with Castle Pines residents during the October 4 Coffee with a Cop. The event provided the opportunity for the DCSO and residents to get together outside of emergency situations By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Lauren Lekander The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has been…
By Amanda Merriman Ever since the world was introduced to the Weasley family’s magical clock in “Harry Potter,” I thought it would be so convenient to be able to locate your family members like that in everyday life. Of course, with smartphones there are many iterations of this available today. Life360 is a free app…
By John Basche Officially November 11 this year, veterans organizations around Douglas County and the Denver metro area are hosting a number of events in observance and remembrance to honor those who have served in our armed forces. While for many of us Veterans Day has always been marked by a parade in our local…
By Daniel Williams; photo courtesy of Nanowrimo.org There’s an old saying, “Everyone has a novel in them.” In July 1999, Chris Baty and 20 friends decided to make that idea a reality when they sat down in coffee shops around San Francisco and attempted to write a novel in a month. Only a few of…
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Information provided by the Castle Pines Arts & Cultural Foundation The Castle Pines Arts & Cultural Foundation is excited to present a multi-media slide show presentation for the holidays by John Fielder on December 1 at 7 p.m. at the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District building, located at 7404 Yorkshire Drive, Castle Pines. “A Colorado…
A great place to unplug and unwind Article and photos by Susan Helton From Panorama Point Scenic Overlook, visitors have a spectacular view of 100 miles of the Continental Divide. The overlook is also a popular location for weddings. Just 30 miles west of Denver, off Highway 93 on Golden Gate Canyon Road, lies Golden…
Take a trip back in time to The Buckhorn Exchange, Denver’s Oldest Restaurant The Buckhorn Exchange opened its doors a few years back; 124 to be exact! Colorado’s most historic steakhouse, with the state’s very first liquor license, was established in 1893 by Henry H. “Shorty Scout” Zietz. Zietz was no stranger to some of…
Information provided by South Metro Fire Rescue Adult/Senior Driving Skills is a hands-on driving class, for senior citizens, and all other adults 21 and older who would like to improve their ability to handle challenging driving situations. Defensive driving skills and crash avoidance techniques will be taught. Students must have a personal vehicle to drive…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Rock Canyon High School Congratulations to Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) National Merit semifinalist scholars. From left to right: Castle Pines resident Olivia Voss, Nicole Wilking and Karen Yi are in the top scoring 16,000 out of 1.6 million students who took the PSAT NMSQT last year. (Dhivya…
Sphero is a robotic toy whose path and color can be altered by kids using the accompanying app, block-based drag and drop, or programming and writing their own code. Article and photos by Liz Rector Coding was once reserved for the technological elite. In the past, becoming successful at coding required extensive studying at higher…
The BRE Green Team recently received a partial grant from DCSD for its environmental efforts. The money will be used to purchase new automatic water sensors for all of BRE’s faucets. By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Corin Meibos The Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) Green Team was one of a small group of finalists to…
By Susan Helton Throughout the school year, Douglas County schools offer various opportunities for volunteering and otherwise helping out. Opportunities exist for those with a lot of time to give, smaller bits of time now and then, or donations, monetary or otherwise. For those who delight in coordinating fundraising or collection activities to support the…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of Amy and Dave Flanagan Last month, The Connection left readers with Arthur (Art) Ceresa and his wife Mary, “a gracious woman,” who slowly, shrewdly gained control of today’s Surrey Ridge area from the Schweigers and brothers Joseph and Alois Kroll at the astounding per acre price of $6.25. The…
Information provided by Douglas County Long-awaited improvements to Daniels Park Road began the week of October 23. A portion of the existing stretch of gravel within Daniels Park between Grigs Road and Castle Pines Parkway will be closed for the remainder of the year. Motorists will be redirected to Monarch Boulevard. When the project is…
Information provided by Douglas County Note that Colorado Elections are administered by mail only. Instead of casting your vote on equipment at a polling place, you will receive and vote your ballot at your convenience. You may choose to deliver your voted ballot by mail or save on postage and use one of ten convenient…
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. Taking a deep dive into the dark side of Manifest Destiny, I…
Information provided by TRICARE One of the ways we as a country take care of our retired military personnel is through continued health coverage and medical benefits, including TRICARE and TRICARE For Life. One of the often overlooked benefits of TRICARE for Life is the free delivery of medications to the address of your choosing.…
Castle Pines resident Lisa Voss caught one of the many rainbows that appeared on October 5 courtesy of the afternoon storms. This shot was taken from the 11th fairway at The Ridge at Castle Pines North. By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of Lisa Voss to those affected by suicide, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention…
Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner Superlatives today are not lacking. Everything is amazing, incredible, awesome, special or very unique, the latter actually impossible. But how about “paradise” as perfection, a place against which all other places on earth are measured …? Check your world map, and travel 900 miles east of Zanzibar and 600…
By John Basche For many of us, pumpkins on the stoop and falling leaves mark our transition to our holiday season preparations. However, for many Coloradans the start of November marks an opportunity to pause and reflect on loved ones lost. Officially November 1 and 2, Day of the Dead or “Día de Muertos” is…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Rock Canyon High School Castle Pines resident and Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) student Kylie Hutchison was selected to receive the prestigious Award of Excellence from the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. The award identifies high-achieving high school students with “outstanding academic achievement, leadership potential…
By Patte Smith; courtesy photo We all get caught up in the holidays – making recipe lists, deciding who is hosting Thanksgiving, cleaning the house, thinking ahead to Christmas and stressing out about who gets what – the list is never-ending. How about we put all of that aside for a few hours or a…
By Michelle Post; graphic by Libraryguides.mdc.edu With so much talk about “fake news” I thought it would be appropriate to write about a resource evaluation method, CRAAP, which stands for Currency (timeliness), Relevance (importance), Authority (source), Accuracy (reliability) and Purpose (reason). The method helps learners sort out relevant information from the sea of data on…
By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Corin Meibos Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) had some fun celebrating spirit week during the last week of September. Dress like your favorite teacher on Tuesday, September 26, had students and staff doing double takes as the dopplegangers came out of the woodwork. Second-grade teacher Terra Shaffner had her fair…
Information provided by Douglas County The Senior Property Tax Exemption for senior citizens was created for qualifying seniors and the surviving spouses of seniors who previously qualified for the exemption. Taxpayers 65 years and older as of January 1 of the year of application who have owned and occupied the property as their primary residence…
American Academy students at the Castle Pines campus gather to play together and demonstrate kindness. (Left to right): Neel Gowda, Cole Felton, Christopher Caid (CP), Nicholas Hartl and William Staab. By Liz Rector; photos courtesy of American Academy “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted,” stated famous Greek storyteller Aesop. Although…
RCHS senior Keeley Davis and her parents Erin and Chris Lane at the final RCHS home volleyball game celebrating Senior Night. Information provided by Rock Canyon High School; photo by Terri Wiebold Castle Pines Village resident Keeley Davis is a senior on the varsity volleyball team at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS), where she has…
The gift of a new bike is helping Brian to journey through life while trying to heal from a disruptive childhood. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Judy Carlson Often, social media platforms are used to complain, shame or spread a whirlwind of negativity. However, since a serendipitous meeting between Castle Pines resident Judy…
Information provided by Douglas County Government Veterans Affairs In 2006, Colorado voters approved an amendment and subsequent legislation that expanded the senior property tax exemption to include “qualifying disabled veterans.” For disabled veterans who qualify, 50 percent of the first $200,000 of actual value of the veteran’s primary residence is exempted. A disabled veteran exemption…
Pilates in the Pines owners Cathy Bosson (left) and Alana Norman (right) joined in the special invitation-only event. By Terri Wiebold; photos by Laura Gooding The October 16 “soft opening” of the new Trestles restaurant in Castle Pines Village offered a taste of the cuisine that patrons could expect when dining. The restaurant opened…
Castle Pines resident Steven Bullock proudly holds the National Certificate of Merit he was awarded. Article and photo submitted by Kira Zizzo On September 26, an event celebrating perseverance and hard work took place in the Rocky Heights Middle School cafetorium. This event, the Boy Scout Court of Honor for Troop 316, was truly captivating…
Back row, left to right: Madelyn Merrick, Gracie Schuster, Mia Siers, Samuel Shallow, Sarah Matarelli (CP), Griffin Toole (CP) and Kyra Brownlee. Middle row: Esther Jacob, Teagan Erdos, Jillian Axton, Arden Maersch, Chloe Wilks, Hailey Townley and Rebekah Jacob. Front row: Lola Claggett (CP), Kelly Sdrulla, Natalie Xikes (CP), Carly Inman (CP), Victoria Xikes (CP)…
Information provided by the USDA Forest Service Taking a family jaunt into the mountains can be a fun holiday outing for family and friends. The forest service has a few cutting areas set aside for Christmas trees here in the mountains of Colorado. Two fairly close Front Range locations to find the family tree are…
By Michelle Post Before exploring the two new generations, let’s recap the last seven months of generational research. A generation is defined as, “all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively.” And a generation can also be defined as, “people within a delineated population who experience the same significant…
By Michelle Post I received a handwritten thank you note after one training class, and I did not recognize the return address. I opened the thank you card and was overwhelmed by the words of the writer. He was thanking me for the class he just attended. It was not a long note, but it…
Mayor Pro Tem Tera Radloff and Councilman Geoff Blue. Article and photo by Lynne Marsala Basche On October 16, Castle Pines residents had the opportunity to meet the two mayoral candidates for the City, Tera Radloff and Geoff Blue. The meet and greet was held at Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines, and candidates were…
Tommy Matthews in front of a typical scene where soaked furniture and demolition debris is piled up in front of houses…block after block after block. By Daniel Williams; photos courtesy of Tom Matthews and Samaritan’s Purse When Hurricane Harvey made landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast, knocking out power, flooding homes, causing horrific devastation in…
As part of their Project Based Learning unit “Putting the Pieces Together,” TTE third-grade students became playground engineers tasked with modifying a play space to meet the needs of children with autism. Students presented their findings and suggestions to the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District and the Castle Pines Parks Authority in October.| By Lynne…
Respecting and honoring the sacrifices of many, the Conley family has four members whose love for our country has led them to serve in the U.S. military. They recently gathered in San Diego to witness and celebrate their youngest son Ryan receiving the title of United States Marine. Pictured left to right: Monique Conley, Lance…
By Lynne Marsala Basche You may be struggling. Someone you know could be suffering. In fact, one in five adults and adolescents will be diagnosed with a mental health issue in their lifetime. In 2014, after seeing a spike of various mental health issues in Douglas County, officials recognized the need to increase community mental…
By Lisa Crockett A special meal here and there should fit comfortably into almost everyone’s lifestyle. This time of year, though, it seems that there are special occasions several times a week. Here are some ideas for keeping holiday treats from derailing good health: Very veggie: Roasted veggies (think Brussels sprouts with pecans) need just…
Information and photos submitted by Beverly Coggins After more than a decade of hosting (and two years off due to health issues), Becky Cohen (pictured far left) and her den of friendly witches gathered back at Cohen’s home to usher in the Halloween season. Lively spirits (boos) were enjoyed by all. Becky Cohen in her…
With bagpipe music playing, participants of the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Red Rocks walked nine laps around the amphitheater which is the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers. Article and photos by Lisa Nicklanovich The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Red Rocks Amphitheatre brought approximately 2,000 firefighters and…
Information provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Each year, there are new health plans and prescription drug coverage choices. For individuals who currently have a Medicare plan, it is important to review your current health and prescription drug coverage each fall, and make sure that your plan is still right for you.…
By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Stephen Bosco Oak Hills resident Stephen Bosco, owner and club director of Panther Volleyball Club, started the club five years ago when his stepdaughter was looking for an alternative to other club volleyball organizations. Panther practices are at American Academy in Castle Pines, and the organization supports multi-sport athletes,…
Cutline and photos by Kathy Fallert A great time was had by all at the annual Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) back-to-school carnival on Friday, August 25. A dessert walk, jumpy castles, food trucks, a dunk tank and more were on hand for everyone to enjoy.
A Community Cafe reaches out to help others Opened in May 2016, GraceFull Community Cafe is a very unique eatery located in a renovated 1900s house near the corner of South Curtice Street and Main Street in Historic Downtown Littleton. Co-owners Heather Greenwood and her husband Troy Greenwood have a passion to build community through…
Mark Edson, MD, Castle Pines resident and winner of this year’s nine-mile Run Wild race, donated his $500 proceeds to the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) to plant trees in Coyote Ridge Park. The race was part of the three-day Party in the Pines event in late August (see pages 14-15) that was hosted…
Almost 50 DCSM students spent five days at the YMCA of the Rockies and learned leadership and team building skills, as well as general outdoor education. Article and photo submitted by Jodi Anderson, DCS Montessori For more than a decade, sixth-graders at DCS Montessori (DCSM) have looked forward to this rite of passage. For five…
When you hold your local newspaper in your hands – whether in print or on a mobile device – you hold a powerful tool to inform and inspire. For centuries in towns and cities across North America, local newspapers have served as the voice for the public good and as a powerful connection between citizens…
Elly Harper, 80108 resident, is a volunteer at the Crisis Center and has volunteered for nonprofits for many years. Harper said, “There’s always a need for volunteers, and it can be whatever you have the time and commitment for. Why not now?” By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Elly Harper Elly Harper of Timber Canyon…
Cutline and photos by Kathy Fallert Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) fifth-graders learned some financial planning skills on Wednesday, September 6, as the students took on rolls from mayor to banker to operating their own businesses at Young AmeriTowne in Denver.
Information provided by Douglas County The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is asking drivers to ‘Mind the Gap’ as part of a new safety campaign. The Gap is an 18-mile stretch of I-25 between Monument and C-470 and is known for a higher than average number of accidents. There were 5,537 crashes between C-470 and…
By Michelle Post Performing research on Google used to suck hours out of my life, but that was before I learned about various Google search tricks (proper name is site operators), but tricks sounds easier. Using some or a combination of the below tricks will decrease research time and increase the richness of the information.…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of NASA Traditionally, the Angels Among Us segment features a different local nonprofit each month. With the many recent natural disasters, such as Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well as the wildfires in California, Montana and Oregon and the earthquakes in Mexico, The Connection is featuring national nonprofit…
The four DCSD principals who attended the Tointon Institute for Educational Change in Vail, left to right: Steve Getchell from Copper Mesa Elementary, Erin Carlson from South Ridge Elementary, Jennifer Malouff from Saddle Ranch Elementary and John Veit from Buffalo Ridge Elementary. By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Janet Alcorn Principal John Veit of Buffalo…
By Amanda Merriman It has been a while since I downloaded a game app to my phone. Usually, I am reviewing requests to add games to my children’s devices. Yet, when I came across a game called Device 6, I had to get it. Device 6 is a unique and beautifully designed game. In overly…
By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Brad Mahoney Dr. John Vickers cut the celebratory ribbon on September 14 for the Castle Pines Veterinary Hospital’s grand opening of its new location at 363 Village Square Lane, Suite 115 in Castle Pines. The (formerly named) Castle Pines Veterinary Clinic moved from its previous 2,000-square-foot space in Suite…
Sharon Lewis at an IFBB professional bodybuilding competition. By Daniel Williams; photo courtesy of Sharon Lewis In late 2012, Sharon Lewis found herself in a time of transition. She had quit a sales job to become a stay-at-home mom, and, along with her husband and two young sons, was planning a 2013 move from Chicago…
Team Pitch Perfect won the ninth annual TTE mother/son kickball tournament on September 8 at Coyote Ridge Park. By Lynne Marsala Basche; courtesy photos The ninth annual Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) mother/son kickball tournament took place on Friday, September 8 at Coyote Ridge Park and proved that the game is not just for kids at…
Air Force Academy visit provides soaring day trip options Article and photos by John Basche World-renowned Cadet Chapel is an example of the “brutalist” style of architecture. Less than 40 miles south of Castle Pines Parkway lies one of our nation’s most treasured learning institutions, the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). Steeped in…
Article and photos by John Basche; photos courtesy of Zoë Zizzo and Megan Hassler With Party in the Park providing the inspirational backdrop, 100 Castle Pines budding artists crafted their sidewalk chalk interpretations of “What I love about Castle Pines” as part of the Chalk It Up 4 Charity event and contest on Saturday, August…
The Three & Two Warriors, back row from left to right: Khaden Rullo, Kohl Rullo, Julian Terrazas, Dylan Goltl, Isaac Waschmann, Noah Scott and J.T. Shank. Front row from left to right: Chase Jaworsky, Dante Nori, Lathan Van Ausdal, Carson Tinney and Brayden Duman. By Liz Rector; photo courtesy of Jon Shank A group of…
Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Grill season is winding down. With cooler temperatures and shorter days, cooking tends to move back inside the house. After a summer of burgers, steaks and hot dogs, it’s likely your grill is buried in a heap of carbon that won’t benefit the flavor of your food, and may…