The Connection

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines Located just south of the Village Square commercial district, Lagae Ranch is a 249-acre planned development that includes Elk Ridge Park and three additional neighborhood parks, American Academy Charter School, up to 231 single-family homes, 400 multi-family residences, an additional elementary school, 76 acres of open space…

Information provided by Douglas County Douglas County recently announced a two-way data-sharing partnership with Waze, the free, real-time navigation app.  This collaboration will assist those who live, work and play in Douglas County with important information about current road conditions and construction projects to assist their commute around the county. “We know that one of…

Information provided by the Douglas/Elbert Task Force. The Douglas/Elbert Task Force received $8,540 from the Food Bank of the Rockies for the purchase of a new walk-in cooler to support its food bank program.  The new refrigerator will increase the Task Force’s capacity to store additional refrigerated items, such as dairy products and fresh produce…

By Patte Smith A free informational housing seminar for older adults is being presented on Saturday, October 15 at the Lone Tree Arts Center from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  Open to the public, speakers will discuss topics on seniors interested in “aging in place” and remaining in their own home; an overview of the…

DCSM students, staff, friends and family enjoyed an afternoon catching up while hungry participants entered a pie eating contest and took a spin in the hamster balls. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori The DCS Montessori School (DCSM) fall festival is an annual tradition for more than 20 years.  This year, students,…

Colleen and Judi at Castle Pines Dental Care love their jobs, having been around for 14 and 15 years, respectively. Always helpful Terri at Scheich Family Dentistry celebrates 13 years keeping everything in check. Alex at Castle Pines Orthodontics has been running the office since 2003.  She loves watching their patients grow up. Article and…

By Lisa Crockett ‘Tis the season for all things pumpkin.  Whether you are hankering for a luscious pie or a toothy jack-o’-lantern, here are tips for getting the very best this season: • Pumpkins for pie and pumpkins for carving are grown from different varieties, so make sure you’re getting the right one for the…

By Lynn Zahorik, photos courtesy of Peter Burke The star of every University of Colorado (CU) football game is without a doubt Ralphie the buffalo mascot.  One of the most popular and recognized college mascots in the nation, Ralphie has been a part of CU game day lore for nearly half a century.  Most fans…

By Amanda Merriman If you have teenage individuals living in your home, you have probably heard of musical.ly, a popular video-sharing app that has captured the attention of over 80 million users, or “musers” as they are called, worldwide.   Musical.ly combines our innate love of music and the desire to connect with like-minded individuals…

Seventh grade social studies teacher and project advisor Laurie Williamson with students Chloe Voss and Amanda Gin. Submitted by RHMS eighth grade student Amanda Brauchler; photo courtesy of Izzy Holsman Nora Danzig is a Holocaust survivor.  She was born in Germany in the 1930s, and she is 84 years old.  Danzig was not only a…

By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) had a dual goal – wanting to give multiple new fourth and fifth grade families a chance to connect and meet other parents and kids and wanting to create a new special tradition for the “upper grades” to celebrate and look forward to each year.  What…

By Amy Shanahan The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is eager to alert residents to a new scam that is currently taking place throughout the county.  This scam involves a phone call by someone claiming to be a person of authority who is providing a public service by letting the person they called believe that…

Self-proclaimed “mama’s boy,” 27-year-old Chase McNary was one of the final three contestants on the recent season of ABC’s “The Bachelorette.”  A Colorado native, McNary loves the outdoors and being active, including golfing at The Ridge at Castle Pines North with his mom with whom he has a very close relationship. By Amy Shanahan; photos…

Caissons for the RidgeGate bridge being constructed. Information from RTD Southeast Rail Extension To the average commuter traveling on I-25 past Lincoln Avenue and RidgeGate Parkway, it may appear that besides a lot of dirt being moved (close to 160,000 cubic yards to be exact), not much else is being constructed on the new light…

Wellspring’s “Evening of Inspiration” was held at Cielo at Castle Pines.  Wellspring’s staff, family, business partners and friends raised approximately $200,000 for the nonprofit.  Pictured left to right:  Richard West, Theresa and Stan Banaszak, Ann Allott, Alison Rausch and Judson Mitchell.   Article and photos by Elizabeth Wood West Wellspring Community’s (Wellspring) staff, family members,…

By Patte Smith There are several websites that list 50+ discounts in Colorado.  One such site is www.theseniorlist.com that lists 2016 discounts for restaurants, retail stores, prescriptions, grocery stores and travel.  Many of the service providers on this website have been verified for 2016 senior discounts.  Please be sure to check when you visit one…

The University of Colorado Golden Buffalo Marching Band entertains spectators at each home game with their dynamic sound, lively marching style and creative formations.   By Lynn Zahorik; photos courtesy of University of Colorado and Penny Jordan Every football season, the University of Colorado Golden Buffalo Marching Band (GBMB) thrills thousands of spectators with exciting…

Karen Armato and her children Sammie and Kari (front row) photographed here with The Lettermen band in 1972.  These years set the stage for decades of musical memories for Armato and her family.  By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of Karen Armato It is a musical love affair decades in the making.  Since 1970 Karen Armato…

Submitted by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce; Photos by Lynn Zahorik A gorgeous sunny day at Plum Creek Golf Club was the setting for the annual Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce golf tournament, held on September 19.  The golfers enjoyed a fun day that started with Bloody Marys and burritos, followed by 18 holes…

The Keep is a new 1,100-acre residential project located just southwest of Sedalia.  Upon completion, it will have 64 home sites and 745 acres of natural reserve open space. By Elizabeth Wood West; photos provided by Koelbel and Company Denver area developer Koelbel & Company has broken ground on its newest high-end residential project called…

It will be time to hit the slopes before long.  Get a pass and make plans for some great skiing and boarding this season.  Here is the run-down for 2016-2017 season pass information: Epic Schoolkids Colorado Pack The Epic Schoolkids Colorado Pack is FREE for kindergarten through fifth-grade students.  It provides four days of skiing…

Zack (left) and Grant (right) raised funds and awareness – along with Nick – during the Cancer League of Colorado 5K. Article and photo by Lynne Marsala Basch Castle Pines residents Zach Fornelius, Grant Gooding and Nicholas Gooding had energy left for some fun after the 20th Annual Cancer League of Colorado’s Race for Research…

By Patte Smith Wisdom Within These Walls, an education and entertainment organization whose mission is to inspire cultural re-consideration of the question of wisdom and the vitality and strength that accompanies aging and seniors, will present “Wisdom Matters.”  This very special readers’ theater production, based on interviews conducted with seniors in the local area, has…

Submitted by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Please join the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce in helping to change the lives of homeless students right here in our area.  In 2015, there were 910 homeless students in the Douglas County School District.  This number seems unreal given that Douglas County is one of the…

Information provided by Discovery Running Join the City of Castle Pines and Discovery Running in their all new Castle Pines Run Club! The Castle Pines Run Club meets every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in front of Duke’s Steakhouse.  Enjoy a three-to-four mile jog followed by a post-run social. There are also opportunities for destination runs…

Article and photo by Elean Gersack Have you ever been caught in the back-and-forth of trying to plan and coordinate a meeting with several different people, all of whom have different schedules and availability?  Talk about a logistical nightmare!  Not any more … Scheduling a meeting or event has never been easier.  Doodle.com and the…

Article and photos by Elizabeth Wood West This year’s Taste of Douglas County provided an outstanding food sampling line-up from some of the very best local and area restaurants.  A longtime favorite with food fans, the Taste of Douglas County was launched 14 years ago by Mike Boyle, the host of the “Restaurant Show” on…

By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photo Jump into the back-to-school spirit by taking advantage of some of these free and low-cost ways to continue your education beyond the classroom.  Not only will you learn something new, but you will expand your skills, discover new talents and get inspired!   Technology allows you to access the world…

By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Julie Lamb Castle Pines photographer Julie Lamb won six out of seven entries at the Douglas County Fair photography contest last month.  Lamb’s entry, The Sanctuary, won the award for Best of Show.  The magnificent photograph was taken on a foggy morning and showcases the beauty of our community.

Above American Academy students Drew Cooke , Brendan Goodfellow and below, Cooper Dozois were top scorers in Colorado for third graders on tests in math, reading, language arts and science through the Western Academic Talent Search. By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos   Of all the third graders in Colorado, three American Academy (AA) students were…

Information provided by Douglas County Libraries Douglas County Libraries is seeking volunteers to bridge the generation gap by helping children learn through oral storytelling. Spellbinders are seasoned volunteers ages 50 and older who stay young at heart by telling stories to children in Douglas County schools. A four-session Spellbinders training will be held at Douglas…

Teachers and staff from The Joshua School surround Kari and Matt Ansay in this sweet photo at the XDrive Classic on August 1.  Also pictured is Kari’s mom, Karen Armato, (back left).  Armato watches over Jessica and the entire Ansay family and creates the most fabulous silent auction for the XDrive, too! By Elean Gersack;…

The annual Buffalo Ridge Elementary school carnival on Friday, August 19 was set up outdoors but was quickly moved inside due to wind and pounding rain.  Games and activities were carried into the school’s main entryway except for the dunk tank and multiple jump castles.  Burger and hot dog catering provided by Duke’s Steakhouse of…

  By Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of Wes Schuneman Becker was a charter member of the RCCP and humbly prides herself on her service work that started many years ago in the Peace Corps.  After a lengthy career in telecommunications, Becker served in Bulgaria for three years doing local government administration and small business development…

Bushey (in orange at right) volunteers with Front Range Angel Gowns, which transforms donated wedding dresses into burial gowns for babies lost too soon. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Brenda Bushey Want to learn new skills, make new friends, strengthen our community and bolster your resume?  Then consider volunteering.  Whether you have a few…

Article and photo by Patte Smith Bank of America is moving into the office space east of Dazbog at the northwest corner of the King Soopers parking lot.  The office will have one ATM for its customers to do their banking.  No personnel will be on hand to manage the office.  The Bank of America…

The 2016 Rock Canyon High School poms staff (left to right): Christina Leone, Paige Hesen, Amanda Gesell and Erin Marken at nationals this past year. Article by Riley Busch, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Christina Leone In addition to having an extremely successful poms season and a great score at the National Dance Team…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines Castle Pines is fortunate to have several different organizations that provide vital services to its residents.  However, sometimes it can be difficult to remember who provides what. The map pictured below provides a quick reference to help residents better understand what organizations provide what services, and  it…

RCHS graduate and 2012 Paralympic athlete Brickelle Bro preparing for the “Road to Rio.” By Riley Busch, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Joe Kusumoto With the recent action of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, all of the world has been cheering on their fellow countrymen and women.  This year at the…

The Miller family with their dogs Cadence (left) and Cora, a Golden Retriever/Border Collie mix that was fostered and adopted by them.  They also have an adopted cat, Ninja. By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of Valerie Miller Brian and Valerie Miller have no boundaries when it comes to helping people, getting involved in the Surrey…

Scholarship recipients included: (left to right) Matt Hoffman, Sam Kahn, Blake Follansbee, Ryan Hough, Mackenzie Maslowski, Reese Hummel, Bailey McCue, Danielle Compton, Taylor Kelley, Abby Buretz, Paul Dugan, Ryan Simpson, Ben McGraw, John Wood, Morgan Adams, Tanner DeBoer, Blake Mounts, Jennifer Leonard and Kristen Thomlinson. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Since 2007, members of…

Information provided by the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District The Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (District) ramps up water conservation efforts with free sprinkler inspections for thousands of gallons of savings for qualifying homes. As the hottest summer days bake Front Range yards, the District is offering free sprinkler inspections to homes in their service…

Peg Ellefson (left) was congratulated by Susan G. Komen Colorado CEO Keri Kallaway (right) at the annual Stars in Pink luncheon. The luncheon, hosted by the Denver ChopHouse & Brewery, honored the top 100 individual fundraisers for the Komen Colorado Race for the Cure.  Ellefson and the other Stars in Pink raised a combined total…

Nine-year-old Gavin Ross took second place at his very first tennis tournament in Bison Park this summer. By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of the Ross family July 22 -24 was the start of an annual tradition – the Castle Rock Tennis Tournament played at Bison Park in The Meadows.  Out of eight kids in the…

Partners in the Northwest Douglas County Water Project celebrate the project groundbreaking. (L to R) Roger Partridge, Douglas County Commissioner; Barbara Biggs, Chair, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Metro Roundtable; Jill Repella, Douglas County Commissioner; David Weaver, Douglas County Commissioner; Lisa Darling, Aurora Water; and Larry Moore, General Manager, Roxborough Water and Sanitation District. Article and…

Information provided by BREA Delicious Jonathan apples will be delivered to the Castle Pines area on or around September 14.  The Buffalo Ridge Education Alliance (BREA) is selling full bushels – perfect for canning and dehydrating (approximately 85-100 apples) for $35 a bushel or $20 for a half bushel. Colorado apple farmer John McCallister, the…

MDA summer camp gives kids with limited muscle strength and mobility a life changing experience in an environment without barriers.    By Lynn Zahorik; photos courtesy of MDA Rocky Mountain  As we escort in the month of September, we are greeted by the annual International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA)…

The Rockyard Brewing crew welcomed beer lovers to a day of tasty food and beer sampling.   Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik Blue skies and warm temperatures welcomed beer enthusiasts to the fourth annual Rendezvous at the Rock Beer Fest on Saturday August 13.  Twenty-five Colorado craft breweries from around the state converged on…

Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Early fall is apple season.  One of my favorite treats is an apple picked in the wee hours on the Western Slope, then delivered to the farmers market, and then my kitchen in time for dinner.  You can buy decent apples nearly year-round, but the apples available this time…

Information provided by DCCF The Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce and the Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) together will be combining music from the 80s mix of high energy music and fun with local philanthropy at this year’s Colorado ArtFest After Party on Saturday, September 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 pm in downtown Castle…

From left to right:  Douglas County Commissioner Roger Partridge, former Douglas County Coroner Lora Thomas, Park Meadows’ Santa Larry, and Castle Pines resident and Park Meadows Senior General Manager Pam Kelly. Information provided by Park Meadows Retail Resort; photos by Laura Gooding As part of the 20-year anniversary celebration, Park Meadows hosted its annual pancake…

By Amanda Merriman There are some great tools out there to help track your finances.  My family has been using Mint.com for years now and we have been extremely pleased with it.  Mint is a free app that tracks and organizes your spending all in one user-friendly space.   It is available to Android and iOS…

Sculptor Kris Kollasch explains the tree sculpture project to a MorningStar at RidgeGate resident, who is creating his own leaf for the tree. Douglas County Libraries in Lone Tree hosted the art event for MorningStar seniors. Article and photos by Douglas County Libraries Douglas County Libraries and MorningStar at RidgeGate recently partnered for the sake…

Castle Pines resident Gail Jackson recently took her family to ride the Georgetown Loop Railroad, which is a scenic trip between Georgetown and Silverthorne that was a great time for all.  Excursions such as this are a great way to celebrate Grandparents Day as a family.  By Amanda Merriman; photos courtesy of Gail Jackson National…

Information provided by the Crisis Center The annual Future for Families Gala will be held on November 4 at the Inverness Hotel and Conference Center in Englewood.  Join family, friends and the Douglas County community and enjoy a night of fun that supports a very important organization – the Crisis Center.  The gala evening will…

By Amanda Merriman September is national Suicide Prevention Awareness month and is an opportunity to open the dialogue about this issue that impacts communities nationwide.  Douglas County has taken a proactive, multi-faceted approach to addressing suicide prevention through school-based programs like Youth Education and Safety in Schools (Y.E.S.S. – see related story Here to help…

Castle Pines residents Zane Sokolowski (left), Trevor Wright (right) and Xander Zdravecky (below) were finalists in the National Premier League (NPL) National Championship held at Aurora Sports Park in July.  By Lynne Marsala Basche; courtesy photos Three 14-year-old Castle Pines residents – Zane Sokolowski, Trevor Wright and Xander Zdravecky were finalists in the National Premier…

And the winners are (pictured left to right): Noah Scott, Dante Nori, Chase Jaworsky, Kohl Rullo, Carson Tinney (CPV), JT Shank (CP), Dyaln Goltl (CP), Garrett Tripplett, Dominick Cristinzio, Julian Terrazas, Khaden Rullo and Brayden Duman. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of the Shank family That crazy talented team of Castle Pines (CP) and Highlands…

Information provided by the Douglas/Elbert Task Force Everyone join in the fun for the new Sassy Sunday sponsored by the Douglas/Elbert Task Force (DETF).  The free event will be held from noon until 3 p.m. on September 11 at Treasures on Park, 1638 Park Street in Castle Rock.  Early bird tickets that offer shoppers an…

DCSO Public Information Officer Lauren LeKander is enjoying her adopted home of Castle Rock, where she lives with her husband George and their four children. Submitted by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce An interview with Lauren LeKander Tell me a bit about your background and how you ended up as the Public Information Office…

Article and photo by Amanda Merriman The 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 her obsession. What do you get when you combine the tumultuous,…

By Elizabeth Wood West After breaking ground in 2013, the multi-million dollar North Meadows Extension roadway project is in its final stages of construction and, as of press time, is expected to be open to the public in September.   The new two-mile long roadway, now referred to as Castle Rock Parkway and North Meadows…

By Lisa Crockett A jar of jam is a simple thing, and this time of year it’s easy to find some delicious goodies to put on your pantry shelf.  Sure it’s great on a peanut butter sandwich or a piece of buttered toast, but jam, jellies and fruit butters are amazing ingredients for a myriad…

Animal lovers gathered under the big top in Castle Pines Village to enjoy the talented Diana Ross at the 15th annual Lulu’s BBQ fundraiser.  This event benefits homeless pets and horses at the Dumb Friends League Buddy Center in Castle Rock and the Harmony Equine Center in Franktown.  Thanks to so many generous donations, the event…

Article and photo by Patte Smith Neighbors in the 80108 ZIP code decided to handle fire mitigation around their property with three cashmere goats.  Mommy goat Katie, little goat Troubles, and leader of the pack Fluffy have successfully trimmed many scrub oaks and munched oodles of weeds.   “We are getting attached to the goats,”…

The Castle Pines City Council approved annexation of Sage Village Properties at the northwest corner of Castle Pines Parkway and I-25 at the July 26 meeting.  These graphics show possible gateway improvements that Council is considering at the location. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of the City of Castle Pines On July 26, the City…