The Connection

Be ready to take in some breathtaking views of the Front Range and experience some exceptional bird watching when you visit Barr Lake State Park in Adams County.  More than 350 species of birds have been spotted at Barr Lake, which is home to the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory headquarters.  Barr Lake also hosts an…

Photo courtesy of Kristy Buirge Pixie and Emmie Buirge loved participating in the “Cutest Pet in the Pines” contest and being selected among its winners.   “We got so many texts and emails from our friends and neighbors to congratulate them,” said their mom, Kristy.  “Seeing our community’s adorable pets certainly made our holidays even…

By Amanda Merriman Dear Castle Pines community, I’d like you to meet Charity Miles.  Charity Miles is an app that connects active people with worthwhile organizations making a difference in our world.  So many of us already hit the trails as walkers, bikers and runners.  Why not donate these miles to a cause you believe…

Amelia Earhart’s 1923 Kissel “Gold Bug” on display at the Forney Museum of Transportation and (pictured below) an old photo of Denver firefighters rescuing residents from a downtown building that was on fire. By Patte Smith; courtesy photos The warm-up has not yet begun, and we are all getting a bit of cabin fever, but…

By Michelle Post Everyone has a story inside.  That story could be the one that saves a life or inspires another to make social change or to become a global difference maker.  That is what TED is.  TED is a platform to share stories called TED Talks and to “spread ideas.” TED stands for technology,…

Yummy, simple frittata By Lisa Crockett Leftovers are not exactly the stuff of legend.  What was fantastic last night for dinner, is often just sort of “meh” the next day for lunch.  And more than one encore – that pan of lasagna that was so amazing?  By day four, it’s enough to make you want…

By Terri Wiebold; photo by Paul Masovero The Connection received an inquiry about the large pile of dirt and equipment that is currently located on the northeast corner of N. Daniels Park Road and Santa Fe Drive (see inset).  According to Castle Pines Metropolitan District Manager Jeff Coufal, the equipment and dirt are part of…

By Lynn Zahorik As the last few weeks of winter drift away, many people are starting to plan their summer calendars.  Local swim families are gearing up to register for their summer swim teams.   Castle Crocs, the recreational swim team program within the Castle Pines North community, opens up their online registration for returning…

Information provided by the DCPC One in three girls and one in five boys will face the potential of sexual abuse before they are old enough to vote.  Very young children are at the highest risk.  For parents of children up to 7 years old, the Douglas County Parenting Coalition (DCPC) is offering a My…

Student Timothy Merkle, a Castle Pines resident, trying out the AT&T driving simulator at Rock Canyon High School on February 2 which is designed to show the dangers of distracted driving. By Jack Hibbett, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Suzanne Trantow A virtual reality simulator from AT&T recently came to Rock Canyon High School…

(Pictured from left to right) BRE students Olivia Bruns, Brooke Potter and Grace Bruns helped Dr. Claudia Folska whip up some egg salad on the “Cooking in the Dark” show. By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Nancy Potter This winter three Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) students participated on the Rocky Mountain PBS show Cooking in…

On the first Wednesday in February every year, high school student athletes across the country sign letters of intent to play their sport at the next level.  These students are committing to a sport while attending college in the fall.  We commend all the student athletes and celebrate the following who reside in our 80108…

Celebration day!  The Sanchez family poses in front of their new home with the Giveback Homes team.  By Kay Bryant; photos courtesy of Jessica Northrop Seven-year Castle Pines resident Jessica Northrop is a wife, mother and professional real estate agent who was looking for a way to give back.   She recently found it helping to…

By Michelle Post The Douglas County Libraries (DCL) website has a chest full of treasures in its online learning page (www.dcl.org/research/online-learning/) within the “Research” tab of its website.  One of those treasures is a learning platform that helps anyone learn business, software, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals – Lynda.com.  This…

By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos The Castle Pines Connection is honored to have three Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) intern writers (plus one who is in Malaysia for the entire year), who contribute stories not only about happenings at their high school, but also community topics.  We would like to introduce our interns to our…

By Lynne Marsala Basche No one enters a marriage with the intention of getting divorced, but if that day comes, it is hard to know how to navigate the process.  Friends and family can provide support, but unless they have gone through it, they cannot relate.  When Castle Pines resident Carolyn Blue found herself navigating…

By Amy Shanahan; photos courtesy of Jimmy’s Photography Sue Lee, one of the co-founders of the Sock It To ‘Em sock campaign (pictured center holding a cellphone) recently organized a special day of spreading love by teaming up with the Denver Peanut Butter Plan for an event called “Socks, Cops and Sandwiches.”   The day…

By Michelle Post I borrowed the title for part two of this series from a great TED Talk by the same name (see related story page 7).  Ask anyone how they make toast, and you will find out that no two people make it the same way.  How do you solve a wicked problem?  You…

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. “A List of Cages” is book that bolsters my existing faith in…

By Michelle Post What did you learn today? What mistake did you make that taught you something? What did you try hard at today? ~ Carol S. Dweck A growth mindset is key to personal and professional success.  This has been proven by Dr. Carol S. Dweck in her bestselling book, “Mindset: The New Psychology…

The top 15 spellers at BRE, pictured left to right: Madi, Jade, Sophia, Milena, Riley, Mia, Karlie, Heath, Chance, Kyle, Jaidyn, Taylor, Shwithi, Yeats, and Jon Michael. Article and photos by Kathy Fallert Friday, January 20, had 15 Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) fourth- and fifth-grade students feeling the jitters as they participated in the school’s…

Preserving American history is a priority for Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).  SAR held a Revolutionary period camp for two days at Cresthill Middle School in Highlands Ranch last fall (pictured above), and they joined DAR last month at the Douglas County Commissioners meeting where they presented…

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. Excellent writing is at times quite a difficult undertaking. …

Information and photo provided by the Colorado Department of Transportation The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is introducing a pilot program to bring Front Range skiers and snowboarders to and from the mountains this winter. SnowStang, part of the CDOT Bustang® interregional bus service, will offer express round-trip service to six resorts on two Saturdays…

By Patte Smith Each month I am amazed by the people and organizations that make a difference to individuals, families and the community where we live.  Behind the scenes so to speak, these groups touch the lives of people who need a little kindness, a spark of caring. The Alzheimer’s Association’s SPARK! cultural programs (SPARK)…

Information provided by CDOT The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the High Performance Transportation Enterprise (HPTE) remind carpoolers that as of January 1, CDOT’s high occupancy vehicle (HOV) express lanes is now HOV 3+. The change means a vehicle must have a driver and at least two passengers in order to be in the…

Members of the Castle Pines Run Club rang in the New Year with a destination run at Waterton Canyon on January 1.  The sun was out, and spirits were high as members of the group ran either 14, 10 or 6 miles. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Ashley Oxton While some spent New…

Information provided by Douglas County Commissioner Roger Partridge, who was re-elected to his second term as County Commissioner for District II in November 2016, took the oath of office from District Court Judge Paul King last month.  Partridge’s wife Nadine held the Holy Bible while their young grandchildren stood in witness.   Following the swearing-in…

By Michelle Post Graduation rates in the Douglas County School District continue to climb, making more and more students likely to head off to college.  Recent data released by the Colorado Department of Education shows the on-time, four-year graduation rate in Douglas County is now 90.1 percent. College is not cheap, and it does not…

Seven-year-old Connor Wolff stood proudly displaying the trophy he won last month for riding a sheep for 12 seconds at the National Western Stock Show. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Rachelle Wolff Seven-year-old Castle Pines resident Connor Wolff made his mutton busting debut at this year’s National Western Stock Show.  The Timber Trail…

By Elean Gersack It may be hard to believe, but in a few short months school will be out, and the kids will need something to do.  Sure, it seems great to have a lot of downtime, but after a week or two, the words “I’m bored” may be said too often.  Camps always fill…

Information provided by Douglas County School District Are you watching your kids scroll through life with their rapid-fire thumbs and a six-second attention span?  Douglas County School District is hosting “SCREENAGERS: Growing Up in the Digital Age,” a documentary about the biggest parenting issue of our time. Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston witnessed this with…

By Elean Gersack Did you know that there is a simple, pain-free, low-cost screening that can help detect calcium buildup in the arteries?  Offered through the Medical Center of Aurora, Coronary Calcium Scan Testing can be a useful tool in understanding risk for heart disease. Anyone can schedule a screening, but it is especially recommended…

Brad Parks, senior director of guest experience at the Denver Zoological Foundation, joined some fifth-grade students in front of their “trash-to-treasure” project.  All the fifth-grade projects were auctioned off, and $753 was donated to the Washed Ashore and Stand for Trees organizations. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Anna Mallinson On January 9, Timber…

Linda Bulmer’s blend of entrepreneurial skills and her passion for fashion came together at Aspen Blu Boutique. By Kay Bryant; photos courtesy of Linda Bulmer Castle Pines resident Linda Bulmer has lived in 80108 since 2002.  As a wife and mother of four children (three are in college, the youngest at American Academy), Bulmer is…

By Patte Smith What great programs and activities the Douglas County Libraries (DCL) have created for our community in 2017.  Whether you are a romantic or a youngster, the month of February will find you “love” and a lot of laughs.   Love is in the air at the Castle Pines Library throughout the month…

By Elean Gersack February is heart month, so it is the perfect time to rethink recipes and activities to be sure yours is getting lots of love.  It becomes even more important as we age.   Diets should be infused with plenty of heart healthy ingredients.  According to the American Heart Association (AHA), there are…

By Elizabeth Wood West; photo courtesy of MorningStar Senior Living MorningStar at RidgeGate is a 265,000-square-foot facility with a 4.8-acre campus located in Lone Tree.  Residents can choose from independent living, assisted living, or memory care accommodations.  It is located at 10100 Commons Street in Lone Tree, near the Douglas County Library and the Lone…

Jerry Silverhart is new to town but not new to the insurance world where he has worked for the past 23 years. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Amy Franco The new year came in with a bang and so did the new Farmers Insurance office located at 7437 Village Square Drive, Suite 110, in…

Information provided by Douglas County Art Encounters There is still time for area sculptors to submit artwork to be considered for the 2017 Douglas County Art Encounters (DCAE) outdoor public art program.  All applications must be received online no later than February 11.  Selected work will be on display from May 2017 through June 2018.…

Information provided by Rich Nipert Orangetheory Fitness Castle Rock, which is located on Meadows Parkway in the AMC Movie Theatre complex, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony sponsored by the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce.  The VIP party and ribbon cutting ceremony drew more than 150 Castle Rock residents and excited new members. …

The 2017 Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, pictured left to right: Pamela Herrmann – CREATE Buzz, Stacie Chadwick – chamber marketing director,  Wayne Ruegge – CPA, Carla Kenny – chamber events director, Joe Roos – Hide in Plain Sight, Terry Hostetler – Castle Rock Bank, Greg Segal – Stone Segal Wealth Management…

Information provided by the Douglas County Youth Initiative Please join in and nominate special teens in the Douglas County community between the ages 13 to 19 who have overcome adversity and created positive change in their lives, as well as the lives of others.  The community’s participation is key in making sure these young adults…

Joe and Allison Sabia at their home in Castle Pines Village along with their two children Christina (8) and Joey (9), who attend Buffalo Ridge Elementary school. By Nancy Koontz; photos courtesy of the Sabia family Castle Pines Village resident Joe Sabia came out of retirement (although he was a stay-at-home dad for a while)…

Arapahoe Community College will construct a $40 million “Collaboration Campus” in Castle Rock.  The project will consist of two 54,000-square-foot buildings on a 14-acre site in The Meadows, west of Highway 85 and northeast of Castle Rock Adventist Hospital.  Joined by the Town of Castle Rock and educational partners Colorado State University and Douglas County…

The RMOTHG hiking at the Lair o’ the Bear Park in Idledale in January enjoying friends and braving the cold in Colorado at its wintry best. By Patte Smith; courtesy photo Yep, a gang of compadres can give you courage, promise you thrills and prepare you for situations you never thought you would be a…

Squirt – Dachshund/Rat Terrier mix, 12 weeks old, 3 pounds Information provided by the Dumb Friends League A puppy from the Dumb Friends League will be representing Denver during Puppy Bowl XIII on Sunday, February 5 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. as the world’s cutest sporting event returns to Animal Planet. The puppy from…

By Lisa Crockett Valentine’s Day is a great day to show your sweetheart how much you care, and sometimes the best way to show your love is by making a fabulous meal.  Even a novice cook can create something fantastic to eat using a few tried-and-true tricks (and sometimes a little sleight of hand).  So,…

By Elean Gersack It’s the biggest New Year’s resolution of all time … getting fit.  Now that we are past the first month of 2017, it’s time to cement those fitness resolutions so they really stick! I talked with James Park, director of sports performance for University of Colorado Steadman Hawkins Clinic Denver and got…

Friends and community members joined the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce and Omega Learning Center’s owner Lori Peeples and her family at the center’s January 10 ribbon-cutting ceremony. Article and photo by Lynne Marsala Basche The level of excitement inside Omega Learning Center on January 10 rivaled the blustery weather outside as the Castle Pines…

Blue Origin, an aerospace manufacturer and spaceflight services company set up by the founder of Amazon.com, has a passion for space exploration.  DCSM students had the opportunity to participate in an upcoming rocket launch.  “This has been an exciting journey for the students and we are looking forward to the launch!” said Nicole Gassman, DCSM…

Brian Young, fishing manager at Orvis, donated his time to help BRE fifth-grade students Genesis Torres (left) and Evan Scanlon (right) learn about the art of fly tying. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Lisa Recine The Buffalo Ridge Education Alliance (BREA), which is the school’s parent organization, asked each class at Buffalo Ridge Elementary…

Submitted by Melissa Anciaux, Douglas County Libraries The Philip S. Miller Library in Castle Rock is seeking volunteers age 50-plus who are willing to share their online dating experiences and advice by serving on an online dating panel.  The panel is part of the library’s two-part program “Love Is in the Air: Looking for Love…

By Amanda Merriman Nothing can inspire you more than watching the next generation learn a valuable skill.  After listening to my children talk about learning Spanish at school, I found myself wanting to improve my Spanish skills.  After a quick search in the App store, I found what I was looking for in Duolingo. Duolingo…

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…