The Connection

By Terri Wiebold I’d like to believe that philanthropy is at the heart of every community, whether it is giving of one’s time, talent or money.  Each month, The Connection has the privilege of sharing the amazing stories of the outreach and compassion happening every day in the lives of our readers and business partners.  …

Carson Timmons played the role of Demetrius and Ava Schniederman took on the role of Hermia in the Rocky Heights Middle School production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”  The show provided lots of laughs and was well received by audience members. By RHMS eighth grade student Maiya Upton; photo courtesy of RHMS Yearbook On November…

By Elean Gersack The holiday season is here.  Boutique Dance Academy (BDA) will celebrate with its second annual Winter Snowcase performance and fundraising event on Sunday, December 13 at Castle View High School.  The event will include a preview of the 2016 competitive team dances from BDA company members and a Sugar Plum performance by…

Owner Annette Pedersen (right) is pictured here with store manager Jenny (left), and Amy (center) who is one of the fashion stylists at the delightful Back in Love Consignments shop. Article and photos by Amanda Merriman Back in Love Consignments is a locally owned business that believes in giving back to the community.  On December…

By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Susan Elizabeth Lee Susan Elizabeth Lee, president and founder of the Sock it to ‘em sock campaign delivered more than 800 pairs of socks to Katie Jones with Clothes for Kids of Denver last February.  This past year the campaign collected nearly 15,000 pairs of socks and delivered them…

By Patte Smith; map courtesy of Douglas County Parks, Trails and Building Grounds Enjoying the outdoors is one of the top activities for residents and visitors in Colorado.  Whether walking, hiking, running, bicycling or horse-back riding, outdoor enthusiasts use the many trails and parks that wind through Douglas County and the state. In 2017, the…

By Kathy Fallert November 17 marked the first snow day that many Douglas County schools have seen in four years.  As a reminder, 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 on…

Smallcakes franchise owner Rebekah Lydon-Crowder showcases a bakery box full of sweet happiness. Article and photos by Adriana Hakes Have you lost a little of your natural fervor, finding yourself in need of a little pick-me-up to put a smile back on your face?  Could it be that something as simple as staring at a…

Cindy Welch is best known for her paintings of local scenery and historic buildings.  She has been a GCRAG member for more than five years and is very excited about being a featured artist at Art on the Edge. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Cindy Welch The newly redesigned Art on the Edge…

The Hardin Family moved to Castle Pines Village in July 2014.  The kindness and generosity of the community have surrounded the Hardins with love as they learned of Michele’s recent cancer diagnosis.  Michele and David pose with their children Kate, Luke, and Matthew. By Amanda Merriman; photo courtesy of Amy Caroline Photography For Michele Hardin,…

Article and photos by Amy Shanahan The Rotary Club of Castle Pines (RCCP) held a reception at the end of November to thank all of the wonderful members of the community who contributed so much to their organization in 2015, in ways both big and small.   Attendees enjoyed food and wine and mingling prior…

Boosterthon staff held a high energy pep rally in the BRE gym as a segue to their Big World Recess fundraiser. Article and photos by Kathy Fallert It was a cold and drizzly day on October 30, but that did not stop Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) students from hitting their biggest fundraiser hard.  Boosterthon was…

By Lynne Marsala Basche The idea is simple; give where you live.  For the past six 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 8 is targeted to increase online giving to local non-profit organizations. The Community First…

These residents who are classically trained musicians from the band Proper Scarlet performed at a Halloween party at the Daniels Gate Clubhouse on October 30. By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos Husband and wife team Christian Lowsley and Julia Brochey, residents in Serena, have joined with Esperanza resident Brian Levy to form the trio Proper Scarlet. …

LTAC Publicity Chairwoman Gayle Spelts (left) with residents Pam and Jim Kelly at the Opening Night Gala. Pam Kelly is the Executive Manager of Park Meadows Retail Resort, which was one of the Gala sponsors. Kelly remarked, “This was a great event and Park Meadows Retail Resort looks forward to sponsoring this event again in the…

CSU graduate and 2013 Mountain West Volleyball Player of the Year Samantha Peters (left) gives play-by-play and color commentary for SIS volleyball.  She is pictured above with Northern Colorado Sponsorship Director and play-by-play commentator David Haase (middle), as well as Producer Randy McCoy (right). By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Phil Mildren Phil Mildren, owner…

  Best Chili By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of Laurie Jacobs Neighbors on Turweston Lane in HOA2 gathered on September 20 for the 6th annual chili cook-off.  Keeping true to tradition, “best of” prizes were awarded for the tastiest grub. Thanks to a few of the younger Turweston Lane residents, Syndey, Samantha and Emma Kate,…

Junior varsity doubles player Erich “lefty” Nuss was thrilled with his team’s first place win for Regis Jesuit High School at the 5A state championships last month. Freshman varsity doubles player Evan Nuss and his partner placed second for Regis Jesuit High School in the number three doubles spot at the 5A state championships last…

Chef/Owner Eric Robbins carefully instructed his students to prepare and cook a squash stuffed with pancetta, apples and walnuts. Article and photos by Adriana Hakes Why is it that no matter what type of gathering is happening at someone’s house, people always seem to be drawn to socializing in the kitchen?  Perhaps it’s because the…

By RHMS eighth grade student Rin Wallace; courtesy photo The 22nd of September seemed like a normal day for your run-of-the-mill students, but not for the Nighthawks of Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS).  In the eighth grade Explorers wing, Ms. Holmstad’s language arts classes had the opportunity to hear Tanya Lee Stone speak to them. …

Broncos player Bryce Jurin (front center) celebrated his team’s win with his parents and brother after the game. The Bills bench was ever-ready to go for the next play. Article and photos by Elean Gersack It was a super season for kids in the Castle Pines Athletics NFL Flag Football program.  On Wednesday, October 7,…

By Patte Smith When children think about Christmas they get excited and happy – making a list of toys or technology they would like to have, and teens wanting to go to the mall.  Parents start planning the Thanksgiving Day dinners and holiday parties – it is a very festive time of year. Our community…

By Lynne Marsala Basche The holiday season is an excellent time of year to look for ways to give back to the community or to reevaluate how to make an impact in others’ lives.  Struggling is a reality for some people, and in the spirit and season of giving, here is a small sampling of…

The annual Rock Slide Fun Run had over 300 participants this year.  Co-chair Katie Abner commented, “It was wonderful to see kids and adults exercising together! We observed kids encouraging and pushing their parents and vice versa throughout the two course options.  The endorphin rush contributed to happy spending at the fall book fair!” BRE…

The list of distinguished Douglas County veterans engraved on the Veterans Memorial will grow as five new names are added this Veterans Day. Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik Nestled in the trees of the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Castle Rock is the majestic Veterans Memorial.  Built and erected in 1992, the black granite memorial…

Members of the Castle Pines Junior Youth Group took part in the Justice Run at Hudson Gardens on October 4.  The event supported efforts to fight human trafficking.  This is just one of many service projects the youth group supports. Yasmine Lamé, the group’s leader, is pictured third from the left, and her brother, Kian,…

Jimmy Dozer is pictured here in front of the building housing his new studio in The Village at Castle Pines. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Jimmy Dozer and his photography studio have been fixtures in The Village at Castle Pines (VACP) for the past 11 years.  Dozer is well-known throughout the area for capturing…

Information and photo provided by Douglas County School District On November 12, the Douglas County School District (DCSD) will host a one-night-only School Choice Fair to help parents better acquaint themselves with the many educational options available within the Douglas County School District. The district embraces parent and student choice by offering a wide variety…

Castle Pines Village resident Mike Lanam enjoys making larger than life-size characters which he displays in his backyard for the holidays.  Lanam is seen here with his son Brennan alongside his bike-riding grim reaper which is featured each Halloween. By Amy Shanahan; photos by Amy Shanahan and courtesy of Mike Lanam Kids and adults alike…

The eighth grade Rocky Heights Middle School football champions switch out football pads for ties as they pose for a yearbook photo. The eighth graders made Douglas County history when they closed out the season with an 8-0 record.  By Amanda Merriman; photos courtesy of Maggie Bell, Emma Goble, and Michael Knoebel The eighth grade…

John “Alto” Altomari began the meeting by explaining Aktion Club accomplishments worldwide while Kiwanian Jack Zelkin and Sue Evans stood by.  There are more than 400 clubs in eight countries with 12,500 members that volunteered 185,000 hours and generated $115,000 to donate back to the community. Article and photo submitted by the Kiwanis Club of…

Information and photo provided by Valor Christian High School The United States Department of Education announced in September that Valor Christian High School (Valor) will be one of 335 “exemplary high performing” schools receiving the 2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award.  Valor is one of six schools in Colorado receiving the award, and is the…

Information provided by Douglas County Douglas County reports that as of October 1, there were a total of 224,956 registered voters for the upcoming General Election on November 3.   Of those, 44,471 were Democrats, 104,150 were Republicans, and 76,335 were listed as other.  Make sure your vote counts and ensure that all mail-in ballots are…

In early October, the Rock Canyon High School (left) and Regis Jesuit High School (right) girls varsity and junior varsity softball teams held their fourth annual “Catch for the Cure” game in support of breast cancer awareness.  The two teams raised more than $3,200 which was donated directly to The Jill Lamb Foundation, a local…

Tracey McCarthy, Erica Westphal, Lisa Wiggins (Team Captain), Tanya Hunter, Natalie Vickers, Courtney Mendell (Co-Captain) and Beth Markowski.  Not pictured, Penny Spencer and Gina Lurie.  By Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of Larry Bundy Castle Pines Village tennis continues to deserve accolades.  Most recently, the Women’s 2.5 Red Colorado Tennis Association (CTA) Twilight Team won all…

By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos September 24 was a beautiful fall day as Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) hosted its annual Field Day themed for Super Heroes.  There were multiple stations for the kids to rotate through which included a giant inflatable obstacle course, water balloon toss, Nerf archery, and potato sack races. Organizer and P.E.…

Article and photo by Riley Busch, RCHS intern writer With the start of fall at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) comes the start of many clubs and extracurricular activities.  Among those, the RCHS Sources of Strength (SOS) club has started up again for a great year.   SOS is a national organization with clubs in…

Article and photos submitted by Steve Apodaca Alexis Apodaca, 13-year-old resident of Buffalo Ridge Estates, won her second Championship of her young career, this time at The Track at Centennial.  In one of the most competitive classes in the region, Alexis won the nine race series among some of the best drivers in the region…

Matthew and Tyler Cohen take a break from the Fall Festival activities to enjoy some ice cream. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori School With a nip in the air, DCS Montessori School (DCSM) ushered in fall along with all the fun a new season brings.  The yearly tradition of the Fall…

By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Jacqueline Shuler Jacqueline Shuler, an accomplished artist and teacher, won first place in the professional division in painting with her original digital painting “Mountain Majesty” at the National Arts Program Front Range art exhibit presented by the Greater Castle Rock Art Guild. “I couldn’t believe it!” exuberantly stated Shuler. …

Tasha Frye was thrilled to design all of the floral pieces for an upcoming wedding design book.  The photo shoot for the book took place at the beautiful Domaine des Evis which Frye described as “an amazing gem of a property with gorgeous French country grounds and a beautiful restored stone chateau.”  By Amy Shanahan;…

Article and photo by Amy Shanahan; courtesy photo Castle Pines resident Jeff Genuario spent the past thirteen years driving past the Big O Tires shop on Castle Pines Parkway, and often thought “wouldn’t it be great to have a store right here in my own community that my family has grown to love being a…

Craig practiced many, many hours leading up to her performance; here she is wrapping up a dress rehearsal. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Michelle Craig and Cindy Kessinger If it is a Bird Girl you seek, look no further than down the street.  Kaitlyn Craig of Castle Pines dances, acts and truly shines. …

CanyonQuests for Vets (CQV) is a nonprofit organization founded earlier this year by high school teacher Brian Wood.  CQV honors veterans and provides socialization and a reconnection to civilian life through three-day canyoneering excursions.  These adventures not only bring the veterans outdoors, but also get them utilizing skills learned in the military such as teamwork,…

By Amy Shanahan; photos courtesy of  Pam Caruso Castle View High School (CVHS) is excited to invite the community to Be Our Guest as they present the musical version of the well-loved story of “Beauty and the Beast” as their fall musical.  The show brings together over 90 students who play a part in this…

Mainstream Boutique owner Dawn Johnson is excited to open her second location of this popular clothing boutique in the heart of Castle Pines Village.  Husband Lance has worked tirelessly to renovate the space to make it warm and appealing for their grand opening this month. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Women of all ages…

RHMS “chopped” the competition during the district sponsored Cafeteria Wars competition. By RHMS eighth grade student Sophia Sobota; photo by Amy Shanahan; courtesy photo Three teams from schools in the Douglas County School District, four mystery ingredients, and various pantry items … did they succeed or did the challenge overcome them? Led by teacher Julie…

By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of Greg Hernandez After attending the Ruby Trust release party last month in Castle Pines Village, Greg Hernandez and his wife Becky (pictured above center with signed magnum of wine), returned to the winery the very next night to purchase more wine.  “My wife is a bit of a wine…

Paul Dannels Article and photo by Terri Wiebold Members of the Castle Pines Metropolitan District gathered with family, friends, and community members at The Country Club at Castle Pines last month to celebrate the illustrious career and retirement of Paul Dannels, manager for the District since 1982. Metro District Board President Joe Gschwendtner shared several…

Fire personnel participated in the stair climb, dressed in full turnouts and gear. Castle Pines residents Lisa Voss and Laura Zeh join the many at Red Rocks Amphitheater for the annual 9/11 climb. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Laura Zeh and South Metro Fire Rescue firefighter David Freyta Everyone recalls where they were…

Charlie and Lynn Green of HOA2 have been married 58 years.  They are hopeful of finding a kidney donor for Charlie so they can do and see much more in life – including traveling to visit family, friends, and foreign exchange students they hosted over the years.  Their dogs Tucker, Claire and Riley keep them…

Submitted by the City of Castle Pines Commercial Truck Traffic – At a recent City Council meeting, staff discussed truck traffic in Castle Pines. Castle Pines has the legal authority to regulate traffic on local streets and the existing traffic code addresses commercial vehicles.  However, enforcing regulations can be a challenge and residents have reported…

Information and photo provided by Daughters of the American Revolution On Friday September 11, members and their families from the Castle Rock chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution delivered cookie platters, veggie trays and fruit plates to local fire stations and police departments as a show of appreciation.  The fire…

Pictured left, left to right:  John Rehl, VIC² president, Sara Tibby, Leading Edge Physical Therapy; Alex Stambuk, Country Pedaler; Audrey Will, Coldwell Banker Castle Pines; Rebecca Wilson, TCM Whole Health, Inc.; Becky Schmeits, Horizon Prosthetics; Lisa Garcia, Bang Salon; Pam Inmann, DETF volunteer; and Jim Weglarz, DETF board member. Not pictured:  Donna Stern, MiYO Cafe…

Board President Darci Barlow (left) and Founder and Executive Director of Colorado Young Leaders Nicole Mahobian (right) at the August 27 fundraiser at Cherokee Ranch & Castle. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Christy Herrington Photography Colorado Young Leaders (CYL), a non-profit created for high schoolers, is growing by leaps and bounds and looking to…

Sara Cave proved that an oversized olive sweater atop a black dress can never go wrong, not this season anyway. Article and photos by Maria Pangalos, Rock Canton High School (RCHS) intern writer Fashion isn’t just about clothing: it is about shoes, makeup, hair, scent, accessories, and displaying who you are.  As the famous designer…

RHMS students Ryland Tuers and Derek Fearon are excited to be a part of tech ER, the new elective at RHMS that focuses on aiding with technology.  Here the students are working on a new projector. By RHMS student Sarah Bermingham; photo courtesy of RHMS student Molly Mceowen Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) is constantly…

By Elizabeth Wood West; photos by Lynn Zahorik Wellspring Community’s (Wellspring) CEO and founder Mary Lou Fenton and staff gathered in September with hundreds of supporters, volunteers, friends, and families to celebrate the organization’s remarkable achievements at this year’s “Evening of Inspiration” annual fundraiser held at Cielo in Castle Pines. Wellspring is a non-profit organization…

By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Jen Smoldt The Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) garden boxes had been sitting empty and overgrown with weeds for about a year when parent Jen Smoldt inquired about being a classroom garden volunteer for her daughter’s third grade class last year.  Smoldt had previously been a garden volunteer a couple…

Article and photos by Amy Shanahan Castle Pines residents are in for a treat as a new restaurant is moving into The Village at Castle Pines.  Danielle’s is owned by father and son team Danny and Vinny Pisarra, and is sure to become a local favorite. The restaurant, which held a soft opening in September,…

After a fire destroyed RHMS math teacher Chris Noren’s apartment, her school community rallied to support her. By RHMS student Zoe Zizzo; photos courtesy of RHMS student Molly Mceowen, and Jack Ryckman August 15 was like any other day for Chris Noren, a new sixth grade math teacher at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS).  Noren…

Article and photos by Amy Shanahan Local winery Ruby Trust Cellars held its annual release party and open house on August 29 and 30 and received rave reviews from the approximately 450 people who visited over the course of the two-day event.   Castle Pines Village residents Basil Badwan and Rose Martinez attended for the…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of DCS Montessori DCS Montessori (DCSM) was awash with gold event t-shirts, colorful face paint, crazy hair, and lively banners as more than 600 participants ushered in the fifth annual Cougar Fun Run last month. Students, faculty, staff, parents and volunteers took part in DCSM’s largest fundraiser of the…