The Connection

Connection writer Amanda Merriman admits she is hopelessly addicted to books.  It has been this way nearly all her life.  Every month she will share what she has been reading with the hope that others will share in the obsession too. When it comes to Donna Tartt’s most recent (and Pulitzer Prize winning) book “The…

Sharon Kollmar embarks on a new chapter in her life, returning to her home in North Carolina to be with family. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Friends, neighbors, and business owners throughout Castle Pines recently bid farewell to Sharon Kollmar, a talented businesswoman and friend who has moved back to her home state of…

Numerous Castle Pines residents participated in a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament alongside members of the local Veterans of Foreign War Post 4266, in order to raise money for homeless veterans in Colorado. By Amy Shanahan; photos courtesy of Pete Solano Castle Pines resident Pete Solano joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 4266 in…

Does your furry friend look forward to ornaments, mistletoe, garland, and sparkly lights? If your pet enjoys holiday hilarity and festive fun, please send us your photos for The Castle Pines Connection’s “Cutest Pet in the Pines Holiday Contest.”  We have once again teamed up with The Pet Stuff Place in The Village at Castle…

Article and photos by Amy Shanahan SmartLife Audio Video celebrated its one-year anniversary at a wonderful event on November 13 with friends and community members. The evening included food, drinks and giveaways, as well as a presentation on a new line of products.  Owners Debbie and Fernando Salazar were thrilled with the turnout and have…

Fifth grader Nikki Flocco made an appearance representing the Renaissance period’s Catherine the Great. Kyle White (left) and Alexa Nicola (right) representing Thomas Cavendish and Charles V, respectively. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori School Since 2001, the DCS Montessori School’s (DCSM) Mystery History festivities have been engaging students in memorable ways. …

Article and photos by Amy Shanahan L’Arrangement, Miscellany, and the new Mainstream Boutique held holiday open houses on November 14 to the delight of the hundreds of shoppers who visited these unique shops in The Village at Castle Pines.   Yummy treats, drinks, and exquisitely decorated shops created a festive mood.  Castle Pines Village resident…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Mira Brand The Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) cross country team ended its impressive season with an exciting showing at the State Championships in Denver.  While this was the Nighthawk’s first time at State, and it will likely not be the last. Technically, the RHMS cross country season…

Next Auto Care’s Nathan, Elise, Delores, Ken and Dave at your service.  By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of the Stafford Family Castle Pines neighbors Delores and Ken Stafford had finally made one of life’s most difficult decisions.  The retirement funding was sufficient, they already owned a home in Arizona, and they had just sold their…

By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Janna Robinett Paul Bryson and James Klein (pictured left) both seniors at Rock Canyon High School and 80108 residents, scored among the top in the nation on rigorous exams to test their business knowledge.  Bryson and Caleb Hester (currently attending the University of Northern Colorado) earned the highest test…

During the 2015 holiday season, the U.S. Postal Service expects to deliver approximately 15.5 billion cards and packages.  While it may seem like shipping is the hard part, consider the suggestions to make the process hassle-free. Shipping early is key to making sure packages arrive at their destination by Christmas.  Not only is it more…

Alex Lockett, Drew Sotobeer and Kenny Boots are students from RCHS who all had podium finishes at the recent Colorado High School Mountain Bike State Championship.  Lockett remarked, “The great thing about mountain bike racing is that it is an individual sport combined with a team event.  All the RCHS riders gave each race their…

Many of Promenade at Castle Rock’s new tenants are open and ready for business, just in time for holiday shopping.  Promenade is located next to the Outlets at Castle Rock, on the west side of I-25 and Founders/Meadows Parkway in Castle Rock. By Elizabeth Wood West; site plan provided by Alberta Development Partners With the…

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…

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…

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…

Castle Pines residents Jennifer and Craig Loucks (left) and Angela and Rob Greenhow (right) had a fantastic time at the Urban Nights event where the theme for the evening was #grateful. (Photo courtesy of Westword Magazine). By Amy Shanahan; courtesy photos Congratulations to Castle Pines Village (CPV) residents Cheryl and Gary Joseph and their family foundation for…

By Patte Smith Minions, super heroes, witches and turtles can gather ghoulish gummy goodies (say that fast three times) at the annual Trick or Treat Street held in the Castle Pines business districts on October 28 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.   Kids get to trek around the area and get some goodies.  Trick or…

Article and photos by Amy Shanahan The Rotary Club of Castle Pines (RCCP) is extremely active in our local community and the members give graciously of their time to raise money for programs that support both our local and the international community.  On August 23, the RCCP held its inaugural “BBQ, Brews and Banjos” event…

Gerald Albright enjoyed playing the saxophone and taking the stage with his daughter Selina for a special performance held at The Country Club at Castle Pines. By Amy Shanahan; courtesy photos Members of The Country Club at Castle Pines (CCCP) were treated to a wonderful evening of music under the stars, courtesy of club member…

The Settlement is a new development of 12 custom luxury homes in Castle Pines Village. Two well-known Colorado home builders will build The Settlement.  Chris and Amy Sublette (owners of Ryan Homes Inc.) are pictured left, and Bill and Jill Maul (owners of Viaggio Homes) are pictured right. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Shawn…

Local band “Second Round” performed at The Country Club at Castle Pines on September 4.  “I don’t know who had more fun….the audience or the band!” stated band member Archie Anderson.  Band members from left to right: Matt Talbot, Joey Alfano, Joe Alfano, Archie Anderson, Joe Cantalamessa, John Talbot, and Mike Schwander. Article and photo…

Third grade festivities ensued on September 3 when the kids were taken out to the ball game as part of their baseball class theme. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Mary Carter The Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) third grade classrooms chose the theme of baseball this year.  Keeping in that culture, it was fitting that…

Photos by Cindy Cranstone The Connection caught up with 80108 resident Ashli Griswold (pictured right) at the new Lolli & Pops store in Park Meadows.  The Lolli & Pops website sums it all up with, “We are a small collection of candy shops with a simple goal – to make the world sweeter.” Inside you…

HOA1 residents Lorrie Ball (above left) and Harley Rinerson (above right) would be facing a three story structure just 60 feet from their property lines if the proposed complex project moves forward.  Castle Pines City Planner Sam Bishop (left) and Price Development Group (PDG) representative Chris Bennish held several meetings last month to address concerns…

Sisters Amber Graham (left) and Magen Culver (right) are in their fourth year of spooking locals on their annual Castle Rock Ghost Tour. By Kathy Fallert; Photo courtesy of Magen Culver and Amber Graham Sisters and Castle Rock residents Magen Culver and Amber Graham spent a lot of time traveling from their home town in…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of AA A September morning started as a typical school day for American Academy (AA), but it quickly turned into a mixture of tense moments and excitement when a great horned owl was found trapped in one of the school’s soccer nets. AA’s facilities director Steve Cunningham found the…