The Connection

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.…

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…

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…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of the City of Castle Pines On September 13, the City of Castle Pines hosted the 4th annual Run Wild in conjunction with the inaugural Dirty 40 Ride Wild, which was postponed last April due to inclement weather.  It is no understatement to say Castle Pines got wild! More…

Left to right: Mark Adams, Kristin Adams, Nicole Opperman, John Kutac, and Jeff Jervik celebrated in Las Vegas. Press release and photo submitted by Elements Therapeutic Massage National franchise Elements Therapeutic Massage (Elements) celebrated the best of the best at its annual awards ceremony last month in Las Vegas. Nicole Opperman, manager of the Castle…

By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of Douglas County Libraries A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…wait, no, that’s not right.  It is October 2015 here on earth where spaceships do not fly up and down I-25 – but parents you can shuttle your kids ages 6-12 to the Douglas County Libraries STEM…

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…

The OrCam device lets users with sight difficulty enjoy reading a newspaper independently. OrCam translates the words on the pages of a book by audibly speaking them to the reader.  Article and photos by Adriana Hakes Low vision and blindness affect more than 108,000 Coloradans, a number which is growing yearly with our aging population. …

RHMS Nighthawks Trevor Fearon, Carter Brand, Caleb Jaramillo, Anthony DiMuria and Derek Fearon at the completion of the Douglas County Cross Country District Championships.  Fearon, Brand, Jaramillo and Fearon are part of the varsity team that won their division.  (Not pictured: Jack Hibbett, Wesley Beckham and Carson Timmons). By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of…

By Patte Smith

Wahoo!  Drew, Larson and Cameron Cooke take on a Keystone Mountain snowstorm this past March.  Winter will be here soon, so get your ski passes ready to go and have a blast on the slopes this season! By Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of the Cooke Family Epic Schoolkids Colorado Pack New this year is the…

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…

By Lynne Marsala Basche There is nothing better than getting outside on a crisp late summer or early fall Colorado day and participating in a local run or bike event.  And, if those events have zombies, color blasters or pumpkins, all the better.  Lace up your sneakers, get ready to walk, run or anything in…

By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Lucia McConnell Inspiration is everywhere you look.  For Castle Rock artist Cindy Welch, inspiration can be found in the form of a mailbox, colorful outdoor umbrellas and even business signs.  Welch’s latest commission, “The Barn,” which is being unveiled next month, represents her passion for capturing moments in…

A Spellbinder volunteer captivated the imagination of this audience of children. Information provided by Douglas County Libraries Douglas County Libraries is seeking volunteers for a program that bridges the generation gap and helps young children learn. Spellbinders are seasoned volunteers ages 50 and older who stay young at heart by telling stories to children in…

The Crockett Family (Richard, Lisa, Nora, Sam, and Ben) are heading north to Mankato, Minnesota. They are all set to make new friends, tackle the cold and try things like snowshoeing and cross country skiing. We will miss you all! By Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of the Crockett Family Lisa Crockett and The Castle Pines…

Dr. Jay and Gina Brekke have jumped in with both feet and are already making a difference in the Castle Pines community.  On this recent “house call” to SmartLife Audio Video in The Village, Dr. Jay examined Cody after a frantic call from the business owner who was concerned about the Labrador Retriever.  All are…

Louisa Wright is a Castle Pines resident who came up with a simple idea three years ago and has seen tremendous success with her product My Back Sleeper.  The pillow (pictured here) forces users to remain sleeping on their back throughout the night. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan It took more than a couple…

Each month, The Connection Food & Dining guide features a restaurant we feel our readers will enjoy.  A restaurant  cannot pay to be featured, and there is no charge to the restaurant once they have been selected.   This month, we thought we would spice things up a bit with ethnic food.  Check out The Connection…

Logan Haselden enjoyed showing his vintage 1970 Grabber Green Mustang Fastback to the huge crowd that came out to enjoy the Hot Rods in the Village Car Show. Article and photos by Amy Shanahan The seventh annual “Hot Rods in the Village” car show sponsored by the Vintage Car Club of Castle Rock took place…

Tapestry Hills residents (left to right) Kieran, Cortney, Ryan, and Cale Williams.  Cortney underwent a voluntary double mastectomy last year as cancer prevention. By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Courtney Williams With Breast Cancer Awareness month just around the corner, genetic testing for the BRCA genes may be an option to consider.  The BRCA gene…

Castle Pines neighbor Dennis Hendrickson (center) and his family enjoy a meal from California-based The Melt, now open in the dining hall at Park Meadows Retail Resort.  (Photo by Terri Wiebold)

Fifteen staff members at The Country Club at Castle Pines received scholarship money on behalf of the club members.  Left to right:  Ethan Baughman, Reed Wagstaff, Jordan Kauffmann, Mackenzie Maslowski, Kayla Trujillo, Mario Mangone, Morgan Adams, Ryan Hough, Blake Mounts, Justin “JT’ Kahn, Alexis Svenson, Kyle Parmley, and Lauren Simpson.  Not pictured: Sebastian Wilson and…

Ten-year-old Ferron Marx displayed her winning entry in the Food Truck Frenzy poster contest, which will be used for promotion of the event next summer. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Castle Pines Orthodontics The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce hosted its inaugural Food Truck Frenzy this summer, but food was not the only…

10u World Series Championship Warriors wrapped up an amazing undefeated week on July 25.  Left to right, back row: Coaches Eric Jaworsky, Jon Shank (CP), Ryan Duman (CP), and Scott Bliek (CP); Front row:  Garrett Triplett, Chase Jaworsky, JT Shank (CP), Julian Terreza, Carson Tinney, Brody Bliek (CP), Dominick Cristinzio, Dylan Goltl, Noah Scott, Brayden Duman,…