The Connection

Judy Carlson is a joyful woman with a quick laugh and a genuine warm personality who has worked hard to overcome tremendous challenges during the past four years.  “We all go through such hard times, but if we stay faithful to what we are called to do, we survive,” she said.  Carlson loves living in…

The peer counseling group at Rock Canyon High School poses with the Rachel’s Challenge representative at the Kindness is Contagious campaign assembly in November. By Sarah Bermingham, RCHS intern writer; photos courtesy of Marlaine McMechen Rachel Joy Scott had a vision of a better world where people are kind to one another.  She was a…

The Castle Rock Adventist Hospital’s holiday festivities kicked off with a concert of Christmas classics by The Wellspring Wonders Choir and Chorale.  The 40-member strong choir made its third appearance at the hospital. Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik The jubilant voices of The Wellspring Wonders Choir and Chorale filled the lobby of the Castle…

We meet the first Tuesday of each month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., primarily at the Philip S. Miller Library in Castle Rock.   Meetings include speakers on a variety of horticulture topics for all levels of gardening interest and knowledge. Visitors are welcome!  For date and meeting location changes and/or additional club information,…

Eighth grade student Gatlin Zbylski was one of the actors in the RHMS fall play, “The Audition.”  The play depicted the lives of middle school students and teachers. Submitted by RHMS student Kyla Frazee; photos courtesy of Kylie Devin and Breck Dahlgren Lights, camera, action!  On November 3 and 4, Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS)…

The Castle Pines Connection staff annual holiday dinner celebration at Pegasus restaurant in downtown Castle Rock.  Pictured left to right, back row:  Lynne Marsala Basche, Cindy Kessinger, Paul Masovero, Laura Gooding, Joe Gschwendtner, Tim Gamble, Terri Wiebold and Cindy Cranstone; Front row:  Elizabeth Wood West, Amanda Merriman, Kathy Fallert, Heidi Lewellyn, Kay Bryant, Lisa Nicklanovich,…

Thank you to all of our readers who submitted pictures of their adorable pets for our 2016 “Cutest Pet in the Pines” holiday contest.  This year’s submissions were full of holiday spirit! After much deliberation, the staff of The Castle Pines Connection chose the winners and would like to congratulate Marley Thompson, whose playful selfie…

The Dizmang family holiday portrait last month was complete with the addition of soon-to-be-adopted Samuel. By Kay Bryant; photos courtesy of the Dizmang family The Dizmangs’ story began in 2008, when MeiLon and Michael Dizmang were married.  The Dizmangs have been 80108 residents for more than eight years.  This blended family of eight was already…

By Amanda Merriman This month’s APPtitude selection was easy to make.  When I discovered that Sponsored Publications (creators of Our Neighborhood Directory) designed an app for the Castle Pines community called “Our Hood Hub,” it made sense to try it out.  Our Hood Hub is free and launched in November.  Both Android and Apple users…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Ben Pric In November 2016, the Castle Pines City Council appointed Ben Price to fill the vacant Ward 2 position.  Price, along with his wife Heather and their three daughters – twins Lily and Claire (12) and Noelle (10), moved to Castle Pines two years ago from Highlands…

The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) cheer team in a pyramid at the end of their routine at the CHSAA Colorado State Spirit Championship in December.  By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Dawn Seymour Photography The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) cheer team won the All Girl 5A Cheer division for the third time in…

Fifth grade student Mia Kettler in front of her art show submission at the Highlands Ranch Library. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Wendy Wilson The month of November was very special for nine Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) students.  The Highlands Ranch Library hosted the elementary art show, and while there was no particular…

Submitted by Jeff Stotler; photo courtesy of Mark Tepsic The 4th annual Castle Pines adult punt, pass and kick competition was held on Thanksgiving morning at Elk Ridge Park.  Unlike previous years that were dogged with controversy, this year’s competition went off without a hitch.  With a total of 27 men and 10 women, there…

By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of the Johnson family When a Castle Pines family on Turweston Lane moved away, little did they know that the Christmas decoration they left behind would be passed on from neighbor to neighbor, showing up in unlikely places!   A light-up reindeer, missing a leg, was originally left in the…

Information provided by South Metro Safety Foundation A four hour, hands-on adult/senior driving skills class is being offered through the South Metro Safety Foundation in January, February and March.  The class, for adults over the age of 21, teaches skid recovery and crash avoidance skills.  The course is held at the South Metro Training/Joint Service…

Some of the students in the RCHS School of Business program who have created a business, Canyon Containers, as their senior project.  They will be donating proceeds of their water bottle sales to Charity Water.  Pictured back row: Jesse Hernandez, Leighton Koldyke, Eric Young, Seth Lawson.  Middle: Hannah Philip, Sara Davis, Brian Dunn, Brayden Lambrecht. …

By Nancy Koontz; photo courtesy of the Nathan Yip Foundation Twelve-year Castle Pines Village residents Gayle and Gary Ray will be honored by the Nathan Yip Foundation on January 28 at the newly-remodeled McNichols Civic Center Building in Denver.  The Rays are known for their volunteerism and generosity throughout the Colorado community. Gary and Gayle…

Jami Arthur shown working in her much-loved sculpture studio where she gets lost in the process of creating art.  She also has the advantage of taking a break to enjoy her picturesque property — a bit of inner meditation.  Article and photo by Patte Smith In 2009, Jami Arthur decided to take up sculpture, and…

By Patte SmithWednesday, January 18     Fundamentals of Estate Planning: Including Probate and What It Means for You Hendrick Office Building 62 Plaza Drive, Highlands Ranch     6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Attorney Brandon Campbell of Vaughn Law Offices reviews the basics related to estate planning, including paperwork needed to carry out your wishes.  Topics…

By Patte Smith Oh, please, you say, no more articles about “It’s January, I need to get in shape, I need to exercise, I need to take a class, I need to lose weight, I need a New Year’s resolution, I need to read more, I need to get organized.”  You need to STOP STRESSING…

Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik Bundled up in fur from his head to his toes, Santa delighted kids of all ages when he arrived at The Village at Castle Pines on December 3.  Festive holiday attire was abundant as friends and family welcomed in the season at the annual Santa in the Pines event…

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. “The Twilight Wife,” the second novel from best-selling author…

Castle Pines Village Garden Club board members enjoyed an afternoon of merriment and giving at Cherokee Ranch and Castle on December 2.  Pictured from left to right:  Janice Wright, Michele Volkl, Ginny Forstmann, Carol Kingsley, Liz Lively and Liz Clarke. Article and photo by Lynn Zahorik With magnificent boughs of evergreen draped throughout, Cherokee Ranch…

Now is the perfect time to plan for spring and summer landscape work.  You’ll be glad you did! By Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of Steve Belluscio, Pineco, LLC How many of us have tried to hire a landscaping company in May only to find out they are booked until August?  Well, it may sound crazy…

By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Elena Ronquillo A neighborhood 7th annual ornament exchange luncheon was held in the Forest Park home of Rina Castanon (pictured in center in red and black) on December 9.  The group included new and long-time Forest Park neighbors, local friends and family from Boulder.  Each guest brought a special…

Pictured left to right, front row: Allison Peery and Lisa Bartmann; middle row: Marylou Giampietro, Angel Resatar and Angela Williams; back row: Lauren Patterson, Michelle Yeagle, Susan McCauley, Alyda Macaluso, Lin Giampietro, Lisa Adams and Stacy Gaines. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Lin Giampietro The Bunco Babes of Castle Pines have been getting together…

Submitted by The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce The annual Holly Jolly Breakfast with Santa, now in its seventh year, was a special morning for all of the parents, grandparents and little ones who attended.   The event is hosted by The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce and once again took place at The Ridge…

By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of April McCaffrey Since 2010, the residents of Cerney Circle in the KnightsBridge neighborhood have been stringing lights from one house to the next, connecting lights in a symbol of unity during the holidays.  April McCaffrey, the resident who came up with the idea after seeing it done in a…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines; photo by Kathy Fallert Beginning in February, the City of Castle Pines will begin extending the end of Monarch Boulevard east through the [currently under construction] Lagae Ranch development to a new roundabout at the intersection of Monarch and re-aligned Lagae Road.  The new roadway is designed…

A great time was had by all who came out to provide 120 foster kids in Colorado with gifts for the holidays. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Tom Vieregger Stonecroft resident Tom Vieregger and Hidden Pointe resident Kuntal Vora were having a drink in a bar one day when the idea came up to…

Article and photo by Terri Wiebold; photos courtesy of The Country Club at Castle Pines One of the great pleasures of the holiday season is all the shopping that is available at local crafts fairs.  Hand-made, one-of-a-kind creations are the best, and there were plenty of them to be found at The Country Club at…

This substitute teacher was very excited to be at BRE for the 9th annual cookie exchange day. Article and photos by Kathy Fallert It must have been the Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) staff’s favorite day of the year on December 15.  Yes, that is right.  It was the 9th annual cookie exchange held in the…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori DCS Montessori (DCSM) students were abuzz with the sole purpose of making the holiday season brighter for those less fortunate.  The entire school participated in different events and activities designed to spread good cheer. Denise Glenn’s primary class of pre-school and kindergartners collected Scholastic book points…

Kraig and Suzanna Smiegowski launched their small business CanineKids Outfitters in hopes of making a difference toward canine cancer research and treatment. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Suzanna Smiegowski Castle Pines Village residents Suzanna and Kraig Smiegowski love their dogs.  In fact, since the Smiegowskis do not have young humans in their household, their…

Pictured right:  The RCHS varsity volleyball team presents its first place regionals plaque to the camera after advancing to state competitions.  (Photo courtesy of Chris Zadra.) By Riley Busch, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photos Last month, the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) girls varsity volleyball team closed its season with a successful and record-setting journey…

By Lynne Marsala Basche During the 2016 holiday season, the U.S. Postal Service will deliver billions of cards and packages.  While it may seem like shipping is the hard part, consider these suggestions to make the process hassle-free. Shipping early is key to making sure packages arrive at their destination by Christmas.  Not only is…

From left to right: Jacob Messenger, Jake Roblyer, Christian Butler, Eric Young, Leighton Koldyke, and Nick Caldwell earned a first place finish in the afternoon session of the Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of RCHS The Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge took place on November 3 at the University of…

Article and photos by Kathy Fallert Mother Nature provided July-like weather on Wednesday, October 26 as the new Legacy Village of Castle Pines project broke ground at the northwest corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Monarch Boulevard. Community leaders from the city and the chamber joined the developers for the groundbreaking ceremony.  Pictured from left…

Phase 1 of construction for the Lagae Ranch 249-acre development is well underway. Information provided by the City of Castle Pines; photo courtesy of Bob Wiebold Phase 1 of construction for the new Lagae Ranch development is now underway.  Current work includes grading activity, clearing and grubbing existing vegetation, the first phase of realigning Lagae…

By Kathy Fallert Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) and Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) will both be registering incoming kindergarteners who have siblings already enrolled at one of the schools on Wednesday, January 4.  New family kindie registration will be held at both schools on Thursday, January 5. Registration hours at BRE will be from 9 a.m.…

Visitors to the Blossoms of Light event at the Denver Botanic Gardens take in the wonder of the season. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Denver Botanic Gardens Coloradans are known for their love and celebration of winter.  Check out some of the many festivals and events that remind us how great it is to…

Thanks to the Castle Rock Historical Society, people of all ages took in a bit of history recently at Cedar Hill Cemetery. The resting place for many old-time Douglas County families, the cemetery became a Douglas County Historical Landmark in 2005. Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik A spectacular fall day welcomed more than 80…

By Amanda Merriman The latest social media craze has thankfully moved on from the Water Bottle Challenge.  Over the past month and a half, it has been all about the Mannequin Challenge.  What is the Mannequin Challenge, you ask?  It is believed to have been started by high school students in Florida who wanted to…

Tibbles 2011-2016 Article and photo by Terri Wiebold I would like to offer my most heartfelt appreciation to the entire staff at Castle Pines Veterinary Clinic for the care and compassion they showed my daughter’s pet guinea pig Tibbles, who died last month from pneumonia. Tibbles’ passing was a surprise to our entire family and…

The girls and boys varsity cross country teams at Rock Canyon High School before going to the state meet.  By Sarah Bermingham, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Kira Hartz The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) cross country team had an amazing season. “I feel like we pushed ourselves to the limit, and it paid…

By Kathy Fallert; background photo by Lynn Zahorik While we had an exceptionally warm autumn until November 17, snow is now in the Pines.  The Douglas County School District (DCSD) has a website available that lists school closure status as well as delayed start information quickly and accurately.  Delay and closure information is also available…

The RHMS yearbook staff responsible for creating the 2016 yearbook celebrate winning the Colorado Student Media Association All Colorado Award in Fort Collins, October. 20.  Submitted by RHMS student Zoe Bair; photo courtesy of Tim Ryckman Click!  Snap!  Last year, Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) yearbook staff created a wonderful, interactive yearbook to highlight the…

Claire Preen Shipley has appeared on numerous TV shows and has written two books:  “50 Shades of Chocolate!” and “Diva’s Guide to Dinner Parties” which can be purchased through Amazon.  By Nancy Koontz; photo courtesy of Claire Preen Shipley Castle Pines Village resident Claire Preen Shipley leads a very active lifestyle.  For the last year,…

St. Andrew volunteers handed out goods to the homeless in Civic Center Park last year. By Riley Busch, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Jennifer Kloeppel   With the holidays in full swing, many organizations and communities are uniting to help those in need this holiday season.  At St. Andrew United Methodist Church, several communities…

The Los Angeles Rams were the big winners of Super Bowl III in the 1st/2nd grade age group. The Seattle Seahawks were the big winners of Super Bowl III in the 3rd/4th grade age group. The Denver Broncos were the big winners of Super Bowl III in the 5th/6th grade age group. By Elean Gersack;…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of DCS Montessori The DCS Montessori Mystery History event is a much-loved tradition that now spans 16 years.   Mystery History sparks interests in all things historical, and this year, 1900 to present day figures made an appearance.  Fourth, fifth and sixth graders selected a character and researched their…

By Patte Smith Little did I know when I attended a meeting about Medicare that I would stumble on a very worthwhile organization – Seniors’ Council Douglas County (SCDC).  The council was having its monthly meeting and had organized an educational Medicare meeting. The Medicare presentation was very thorough and the speakers were knowledgeable, but…

Kay Bryant, Staff Writer Paul Masovero, Advertising Account Manager By Elean Gersack; courtesy photos The Castle Pines Connection is excited to announce the addition of two new team members, a writer and an advertising account manager.   Kay Bryant joins the staff as a writer.  Her background includes a 25-year career in business communications, including…

By Patte Smith; courtesy photo The chill of winter is in the air and it is a wonderful time to bundle up and get outside with family and friends and breathe in the beauty of nature.  Join bird enthusiasts for the annual Audubon Douglas County Christmas Bird Count at Roxborough State Park, 4751 Roxborough Drive. …

Performance driving instructor Ben Waddell gave tips on how to manage the slalom course to Alex Coudeyras.   Article and photo by Lynn Zahorik Local used car dealership group EchoPark Automotive (EPA) recognized the challenges of driving in today’s society and wanted to do its part to help teens learn about the dangers of distracted…

Submitted by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce; photo by Lynn Zahorik Gangsters and flapper girls turned out in force on October 28 to raise money for Hide in Plain Sight (HIPS), a local nonprofit organization that awards scholarships to homeless high school seniors so that they may attend college or vocational school.   The…

By Lynne Marsala Basche The idea is simple; give where you live, and for the past seven years, the Community First Foundation and FirstBank have teamed up to promote philanthropy in Colorado.  Colorado Gives Day, which begins at 12 a.m. on December 6, is targeted to increase online giving to local nonprofit organizations. The Community…

By Amanda Merriman There is an app on my phone that is guaranteed to keep the whole family occupied during long car trips up to the mountains, while waiting to be seated at a restaurant or between games at my daughter’s volleyball tournaments.  It is Mad Libs.  Yes, just like the books we all used…

United in their passion for art, Castle Pines area artists of all ages gather for the 10th annual National Arts Program Front Range exhibit.  Pictured in group photo in the bottom center, left to right, front row:  Ann-Charlotte Denslow, Jacqueline Shuler, Luke Kuenzli, Jeanne Gromley, and Cindy Welch; back row: Mia Cassar, Kathy Erdman, Ellen…

Every year when I compile the list of our business partners (on the previous page), I am reminded of how important the businesses are in this community and how far we have come together.   A few of them, in fact, have participated in every issue of The Connection since its inception eight years ago –…

By Patte Smith The Connection readers want to know about our vital over-50 population who is diverse, knowledgeable, skilled, thoughtful and energetic.    If you play pickleball, are an artist, volunteer your time, write, play bridge, bungee jump, sing in a choir, sit peacefully reading, have an experience to share, are a gourmet cook, meditate,…

Researching senior resources pays off with the right location, the right care and comfortable surroundings. By Kay Bryant; courtesy photo Many seniors and their families are challenged to find acceptable and desirable homes and services for family members.  Some seniors want to downsize out of their home and relocate to a smaller, simpler life.  Some…

Sue Lee with 4,700 pairs of socks at the Annual Dolls for Daughters and Toys for Boys Toy Shop.  Lee said, “This year we hope to provide 15,000 pairs of socks for children.” By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Sue Lee Castle Pines Village resident Susan Elizabeth Lee started the Sock It To ‘Em Sock…