The Connection

By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos Douglas County School District high schools celebrated the successes of many talented student-athletes on National Signing Day, when these athletes signed letters of intent to attend and compete at excellent colleges and universities across the nation.  This day of commitment and celebration signifies the next step forward in academics and…

By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Ellen O’Connor The Bin Blessed “babes” were thrilled to celebrate their first year of collecting items for There With Care, a nonprofit which serves critically ill children and their families.  This dedicated group of women held a party in April to celebrate their successes and were once again reminded…

Information provided by Douglas County Ballots for the June 28 primary election will be in the mail to registered and affiliated voters beginning June 6. If you are a registered voter affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic Party and have not received your ballot at the address associated with your voter registration by June…

By Kathy Fallert Bicycling is a fun and healthy way to get around. To celebrate bicycling, Colorado has designated each June as Bike Month, and Bike to Work Day is the fourth Wednesday of every June, which falls on Wednesday, June 22 this year. The number of Bike to Work Day participants has risen steadily…

The Castle Pines community garage sale was a huge hit again this year!  Special thanks to the Master Association for continuing to sponsor this annual event and to all in the community who participated. To view a slideshow of the event, visit www.castlepinesconnection.com and click on Photo Album.

Rock Canyon High School Senior Meghan Cook (left) honored language arts teacher and yearbook adviser Kristi Rathbun at a special event last month.  The night featured tributes to teachers of graduating seniors from across Douglas County. By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Castle Rock LDS Stake Graduating seniors usually have a lot on their minds:…

Submitted by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Summer is finally here and it is time to celebrate!  The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce is excited to present the second annual Food Truck Frenzy on June 4.  This family-friendly event is open to all and features seven gourmet food trucks, a beer tent, live music…

By Lynne Marsala Basche It seemed to Castle Pines resident Ashley Oxton that every day when she was driving around the city, runners were everywhere.  Oxton thought it would be great to start a club to bring people who enjoy running together.  The Castle Pines Run Club, in conjunction with The City of Castle Pines…

Looking for something for your fourth through ninth grader to do this summer?  Then SOAR is the ticket!  This truly unique and innovative program at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) offers academic, innovative and creative courses from July 11 through July 28.  Students can attend one, two or three sessions starting at 8:00 a.m. and…

Information provided by the National Summer Learning Association The ABCs of Improved Reading Access to books.  It is critical that kids have access to a wide variety of books over the summer months. If kids are learning to read, read with them. Books should match the reader’s ability level and interest. For young people to…

This group of kindergarteners learned oodles about chickens and embryology in Kristin Duran’s (pictured far left) and  Breanna Duran’s (pictured far right) kindergarten enrichment class this spring. Article and photos by Kathy Fallert Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) kindergarten enrichment teacher Kristin Duran also known as “Ms. D” had always wanted to share an embryology project…

Castle Pines Connection writer Amanda Merriman hoofing it at the Colfax Marathon while her proud husband snaps a photo of her running her first marathon.   By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Amanda Merriman Castle Pines Connection staff writer Amanda Merriman is a mother of three, wife, nurse and now a marathon runner.  Merriman finished…

By Elean Gersack Calling all first through twelfth graders! The Castle Pines Arts & Cultural Foundation (CPACF) is pleased to announce the return of the Missoula Children’s Theater (MCT) with a production of “Aladdin” this July 11 through 16.  Students can take a magic carpet ride to adventure and discover the fun of performing together.…

Information provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Whether parked for the day outside your office building, at the shopping mall, movie theater or near a trail head when out for a hike – you may not know it, but you are a prime target to be a “crime of opportunity” victim. Crimes of opportunity…

Hailey McDowell, eighth grader at Rocky Heights Middle School was one of the award recipients at the DCSD Film Fest on April 27 for the PSA “Silent Fight” that she and her fellow classmates created.  By Amanda Merriman; photo courtesy of the McDowell Family The Douglas County School District (DCSD) honored student filmmakers with the…

By Patte Smith Each year The Connection features a list of local farmers markets in support of regional growers and communities.   Fresh and flavorful produce is plentiful throughout the summer, and visiting an outdoor “grocer” is a fun family outing.   Many markets not only sell fruits and vegetables, but also offer special items such as…

On April 26, RCHS honored outstanding underclassmen with Jag Awards.  Jag Awards are given to honor students that demonstrate excellence in character and academics.   By Amanda Merriman; photo courtesy of Rock Canyon High School Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) recently honored underclassmen with Jag awards, many of whom reside in the Castle Pines area. …

BRE’s Dream Team raised $1008.68 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (pictured left to right), back row: Caleb P., Luc B., Ryan C., Ethan S., Ben C., Carter M., Cody J., and Ethan O.; middle row: Kate K., Svea E., Erin M., Emily J. (holding the check), Campbell S., and  front row: Molly B., Abby…

Article and photos by Amanda Merriman Castle Pines resident Liz Malody (pictured above) would like to change the way you bring food to your plate.  Malody is a customer of the High Plains Food Cooperative (HPFC) and volunteers once a month to distribute orders from her home to other customers in the area.   Malody…

By Amanda Merriman; photo courtesy of Theresa McDowell Recently, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band gave a hallmark legendary performance at the Pepsi Center in Denver.  Many 80108 residents were in attendance (including the McDowells and the Agsters pictured left)  to enjoy the acclaimed performer and to revisit their “Glory Days.”  The iconic musician…

Article and photo by Patte Smith Boy Scout Troop 628 worked several hours in the Surrey Ridge neighborhood doing much-needed maintenance on a section of the horse trail in May.  Manned with shovels, pickaxes, sledge hammers and of course, work gloves and sun screen, these willing boys ages 11 through 15 dug out sections of…

By Patte Smith; additional information provided by the Highlands Ranch Metro District Highlands Ranch, just a few minutes drive northwest of the Castle Pines area, continually strives to address the needs of adults age 50+ as they become empty nesters or are part of the baby-boomer generation.   From outdoor activities to estate planning seminars to…

  Article and photo by Lisa Crockett My dad loved a good hamburger.  When it was my dad’s turn to cook dinner (which happened frequently when I was growing up) he would often step into the kitchen and whip up hamburgers for us all, sometimes cooked outdoors, and sometimes cooked on the stove, but always…

Increased congestion, particularly during the commute hours, will soon be relieved with the construction of several tolled express lanes along C-470. By Patte Smith The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is moving forward with plans for the C-470 tolled express lanes construction, by adding two tolled express lanes westbound on C470 from I-25 to Colorado…

By Lynn Zahorik As you gather with family and friends for your Mother’s Day celebrations, try our Mother’s Day trivia contest.  See how much you know about moms in our pop culture as well as present day birth statistics … Good luck! Mother’s Day Trivia TV moms 1) Bart Simpson’s mom? 2) Pebbles Flinstone’s mom?…

Aubrey Bruening and Maxwell Peery constructing and testing the circuit for their moisture sensing robot under the watchful guidance of Amanda Lane-Cline.  By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of American Academy As the school year is coming to an end, it marks the first year of American Academy’s (AA) new Engineering Academy.  The program was…

The AA Legendary LEGO Masters picked batteries as their piece of trash.  They wanted to show everyone the importance of recycling batteries and not letting them end up in our landfills. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of American Academy In early April, the American Academy (AA) FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and…

A devoted single father, Lesser has taken a new look at educational expectations with his four-year-old daughter Carstyn, ready for her first day of preschool. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Mica Lesser Thursday, March 17 was the 20th annual 40 under 40 event for the Denver Business Journal held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel…

By Amanda Merriman For the Target addict in all of us, there is a great way to get extra savings on our purchases in an app called “Cartwheel.” This app liberates Target shoppers from paper coupons and makes saving money easy and fun.     For the most basic, on-the-fly, and easiest option, all you need…

DCSM teacher Paul Brannberg took his class to the Great Barrier Reef where they saw sea turtles, coral, schools of fish, and even sharks as part of their study of Australia. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of DCSM Would you like to take a trip somewhere you’ve never been before?  How about the Great Wall…

By Lynne Marsala Basche The Castle Pines Connection makes every effort to provide relevant news to our readers.  We know residents expect information to be accurate and readily available, and they want to be informed of the latest happenings in and around the community.  Timely information, however, can be missed in a monthly publication, including…

BRE Science Fair winners enjoying their moment in the sun. Pictured above are Mary R., Charlotte S., Landrey B., Lia P., Kaylee E., Maddie K., Principal John Veit, Morgan B., Chase C., Jenna P., Selah B., Joshua B., Lana C., Kaylee H., Maycee T., Riley C., and Sophia P. Article and photos by Kathy Fallert…

Submitted by DCS Montessori The DCS Montessori Alumni organization, which launched in late 2015, will hold its first annual Field Day on May 26 at the school (311 Castle Pines Pkwy.) from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.  All student alumni and faculty are invited to attend and enjoy games, races and a barbecue. Currently more…

By Elean Gersack Gear-up for the 2016 Subaru Elephant Rock Cycling Festival planned for Sunday, June 5 in Castle Rock.  There are five courses to chose from:  100-mile century; 62-mile metric century; 40-mile; 27-mile gravel; and 8-mile family.   Ride day is only part of the fun.  Camp out or stay in beautiful downtown Castle…

Retired Army Colonel Larry Caid entertained and educated American Academy students at the Castle Pines campus in April. Article and photo by Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of Brian Caid Castle Pines Village resident Brian Caid is a self-proclaimed  “army brat”, as are five other siblings born of career soldier Larry Caid and his wife Linda. …

By Riley Busch, RCHS intern writer Early last month, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) was given the honor of hosting the 2016 Musical Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) Festival.  On April 6 and 7, the high school opened its doors to various bands and choirs from every corner of the state. Formal concert bands…

More than 200 scarves decorated the halls of Sage Canyon Elementary school before they were donated to the Douglas County’s Department of Human Services. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of Sage Canyon Elementary School With the idea that artwork can be both beautiful and powerful by using it to help others, the Sage Canyon…

Angel Paws handler Linda Tieman and her trusted companion Dillon bring smiles to the hospital staff.   Article and photo by Lynn Zahorik Though Nancy and Terry Anderson have only lived in Castle Pines for six months they have already made a significant impact in our community.  Thanks to their generous support, a therapy dog…

Owner Thanos Patsiouras chose his restaurant’s unassuming location because he enjoys the neighborhood and catering to families. By Lynne Marsala Basche There are some words that cannot be said quietly.  They must be spoken with exuberance and passion as they invoke a celebration of life.  These words demand to be shouted to garner enthusiasm and…

“Mulan Jr.” brought together talented middle school performers, including (from left to right) Gideon Groom, Morgan Cruz, Kelsey Buffington, and Jimmy Lam. By RHMS eighth grade student Sarah Bermingham; photo courtesy of RHMS yearbook student Kylie Devin It was time to welcome spring with Rocky Heights Middle School’s (RHMS) production of Disney’s “Mulan Jr!”  This…

Becca Beaty enjoys photography among other hobbies. By Nancy Koontz; photos courtesy of the Beaty Family Teens often get a bad rap, but statistics show they are involved in their communities more than ever before.  Presenting Castle Pines resident, Rebecca (Becca) Beaty, an extraordinary 17 year old student who understands the full scope of the devastation…

Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik; photos courtesy of Jen Reising With the arrival of spring comes the kitten season, the time of year when cats give birth, flooding animal shelters and rescue groups with homeless litters.  Cats can breed anytime throughout the year, but there is a larger influx April through October due to…

Submitted by the City of Castle Pines The City of Castle Pines is excited to announce the beginning of its Parks and Recreation Comprehensive (PaRC) Plan process with Logan Simpson, the firm contracted to lead the project.  Through this process, Logan Simpson will gather information about Castle Pines’ existing recreation facilities and resident preferences to…

 Submitted by RTD

By Patte Smith As the weather warms up and summer approaches, it is time to experience the great outdoors.  Right in our own backyard, Castle Rock Senior Activity Center Hiking Club organizer Phyliss Tumey has planned five great hikes for the spring and summer season.  Get out, get some exercise, and enjoy the fresh air…

Submitted by The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce has spent the past five months working on a re-branding strategy that showcases the value that the Chamber brings to both local businesses and the community.  The Chamber is now thrilled to share the changes with the community. In April, the…

Five simple ingredients come together to make this delicious and healthy dessert. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett I love to get gifts.  Large or small, it’s always a little bit exciting to unwrap something new and novel.  I especially love books and jewelry, but this time of year I also treasure the handmade items…

Pictured left to right: Jenna Snyder, Isabella Dempsey and Logan Bakken performing the play “Women of Lockerbie,” which was chosen to be presented on the main stage at the International Thespian Festival June 20-25 at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.  By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Cindy Baker The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS)…

By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of the Martinez Family Tuesday, April 19 at the Board of Education meeting held at the Douglas County School District Administration Building in Castle Rock, more than a dozen students were recognized for being elected to the All State Orchestra, Choir and Band.  This is the highest level of honors…

Kids, parents, city officials and staff celebrated with happy faces and lots of applause at the grand opening of the new Castle Pines Library.  While the closing of the old library is bittersweet, the new building is a dream come true.  The jovial atmosphere of the grand opening was contagious as many on-lookers cheered Mayor…

By Lisa Crockett Last month, the Castle Pines City Council held a hearing to determine whether or not the land on the northwest corner of I-25 and Castle Pines Parkway, known as Sage Village Properties, was eligible to be annexed into the City of Castle Pines.  The land, comprised of what is currently zoned as…

All very active in athletics, the Myers family has enjoyed living in Castle Pines since 2005.  The Myers clan gather around Mike during his time with the Arizona Diamondbacks. By Lynn Zahorik; photos courtesy of Robyn Myers With the baseball season in full swing, many of us are looking forward to heading to Coors Field…

Noah Charvat and Emma Herskovits approach the starting line of the trike bike race at the RCHS after prom celebration. By Christian Liley, RCHS writer for The Rock newspaper; photos courtesy of Julia Bartmann After school ended on Friday April 8, students at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) knew that over the next 24 hours,…

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 will share what she has been reading with the hope that others will share in her obsession. This month’s book selection takes a turn to…

By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of BRE The Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) staff pulled one over on the students for April Fools Day.  The Famous Faces board which displays recent photos of the staff members was altered to show their childhood pictures.  Staff, students, parents and visitors spent the day looking over the picture wall,…

By Elean Gersack The Ihme family has hopes of reaching $200,000 in cumulative proceeds for Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHC) with this year’s annual golf tournament.  The event is planned for Friday, June 17 with a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start at the Highlands Ranch Golf Club. Castle Pines resident Steve Ihme, together with his family, host…

Redemption brought peace and inspiration for baseball legend Darryl Strawberry, who spoke at Foundry Church last month. By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Foundry Church Foundry Church in Castle Pines opened its doors to the public on Sunday, April 3 as they hosted baseball legend Darryl Strawberry for both of their morning services. Strawberry presented…

Castle Pines residents (from left) Jean Hawkins, Karen Brown, and Pam Jones assemble a bedtime kit for local charity Sweet Dreams in a Bag. By Lisa Crockett; photos courtesy of Corin Meibos In keeping with an annual tradition, women in Castle Pines who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)…

Castle Pines resident Charlie Green (right) received a new kidney on behalf of his friend Ron Houchens (left).  The two had surgery at University of Colorado Hospital on December 1, 2015, where Charlie received a donated kidney from someone in San Diego and Ron donated his kidney to a woman in Atlanta. By Elean Gersack;…

Information and photo provided by Douglas County Spring is here and it is time to clean up the yard, get the garden area ready for plants, and trim some of the trees and bushes.  Luckily you can haul your tree limbs, branches and a few other items to Douglas County slash/mulch sites.  Be sure to…

By Kristin Adams, owner of Elements Massage in Castle Rock and The Promenade, and Board of Directors member for the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce We have all been there – you wake up one morning with a stiff neck because you slept wrong, or you over-did it on the weekend because you are a…

Submitted by the Town of Castle Rock The Town clerk last month determined there were enough valid signatures for the recall effort in Castle Rock’s District 1 to move forward.   The Town’s Charter allows a petition to be circulated in attempt to recall a Town councilmember within a certain time frame.  A group of…

Singer and musician Rascal Martinez has found a home in Colorado and enjoys playing at local bars, clubs and restaurants. By Amy Shanahan; photos courtesy of Rascal Martinez Local musician Rascal Martinez spends most of his time on the road traveling across the United Sates, but is happy to call Castle Pines his home after…

A very animated BRE third grade teacher Mary Carter helped the school celebrate the Colorado Rockies opening day on April 8 by singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” over the school’s intercom.  Carter will be retiring from teaching later this month.  Also pictured are Ethan Ocasio and Malloree Noufer, members of the fifth grade…