The Connection

Robert Matuszewski and Tim Fitzpatrick, partners at Rialto Mobile, offer a mobile app to schools to aid in communication of important information. Schools can use the app for free. By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Rialto Mobile Castle Pines Residents Tim Fitzpatrick and Robert Matuszewski, partners at a mobile marketing firm in Highlands Ranch named…

By Amy Shanahan; courtesy photo A very important tenet of the Castle Pines Village Garden Club (CPVGC) is to support local charities, in particular, the Douglas/Elbert Task Force and the Crisis Center. The outreach committee of the CPVGC is actively involved with both of these worthwhile causes and makes sure to keep club members aware…

This brochure is an example of the beautiful work that the students at Rocky Heights Middle School created to promote The American Museum of Western Art – The Anschutz Collection to their peers. By Rachel Zetwick, RCHS intern writer This school year, Sharon Majetich’s eighth grade Explorers team at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) partnered…

The Pine Ridge HOA Board of Directors took a very creative and eco-friendly approach to fire mitigation this year, bringing in 270 goats for five days to graze and clear away the unwanted weeds and scrub oak in the community.  The topography that was a challenge in years past proved to be a natural fit…

By Elizabeth Wood West; photo courtesy of Mark Stevens Photography Pet owners in the Castle Pines community will soon have a new veterinary clinic available to care for their furry family members.  Dr. Jay Brekke, DVM, along with his wife and practice manager Gina Brekke, are opening Brekke Veterinary Clinic in late July or early…

Out of four architectural renderings of pedestrian bridge designs, the leaf design was chosen by the Lone Tree City Council.  The Council selected the design that most city residents chose. A new bridge will connect pedestrians and bicyclists from the south side of Lincoln Avenue to the north side safely without disrupting the east-west flow…

 The Momentum 12 Black Team, including two players from Castle Pines (CP) made a splash on the national stage last month in New Orleans.  Back row, left to right:  Jasmine Vaughan, Nevaeh Banks, Izzy Sommers, Reece Randall, Sydney Harkness, and Emma Ziegler (CP);  Front row, left to right: Coach Liz Klumker, Marissa Cohen, Ashley Rants…

Information provided by the Town of Castle Rock Residents know Castle Rock is a great place to call home.  Beautiful parks, well-planned trails, and abundant open space are just some of the wonderful things about the community.  Now, the Town of Castle Rock (Town) is inviting everyone to get outdoors this summer and explore these…

By Patte Smith There is still time to enroll in fun and creative art classes for children ages eight to ten, and teens at Art on the Edge Gallery, 314 Wilcox Street in Castle Rock.  Kids will paint, draw, make collages and work with mixed media.  Offered on Tuesdays throughout July, classes are from 9:30…

Logan Simpson, a community planning and design firm contracted by the City of Castle Pines to formulate its Comprehensive Plan, is seeking public input.  After speaking with residents in a variety of settings, including the “Food Truck Frenzy” at Elk Ridge Park last month (pictured above), Logan Simpson will host an event of its own…

By Maria Pangalos, RCHS intern writer Looking for more fun things to do in Colorado this summer (and beyond)?  Here you go! Road in the Sky – At 14,240 feet in the sky, Mt. Evans has the highest paved road in North America.  While driving, you pass through three life zones, older than you can…

Castle Pines Village residents Alex Nelson and Ross Macdonald (graduates from Valor Christian High School) will be attending CU Boulder in the fall. Rock Canyon High School graduate Meredith Ham will be heading off to the University of Evansville in Indiana this fall to study performance art. Courtesy photos

Philip S. Miller Park’s new outdoor adventure playground is now open.  The playground is one of the park’s many activities for families and outdoor enthusiasts. By Elizabeth Wood West; photos courtesy of the Town of Castle Rock Just when you thought the Philip S. Miller Park and Miller Activity Complex (MAC) couldn’t get much better,…

Sage Canyon student Cynthia Marquez sports a cat face at the school’s field day. Sixth grader Kailyn Ferguson runs a station involving a helmet and a water cup at field day. Sage Canyon Elementary P.E. teacher Lance Schoenwald supervised the school’s field day from atop an ATV. Emma Peterson demonstrates how to navigate the obstacle…

Castle Pines resident and runner Christy Lott at the Friends Run for Castlewood Canyon event last year.  This year’s race will be held on September 13, with proceeds benefiting improvements to the park. By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Friends of Castlewood Canyon Runners from around the metro area will gather on September 13 to…

Jordan (pictured above) and the entire staff, affectionately known as “snoozers,” were busy serving all of the curious, hungry diners at the grand opening of the Snooze restaurant in Lone Tree. Article and photo by Cindy Cranstone Wake up to Snooze!  The A.M. Eatery opened its doors at Lincoln Commons in Lone Tree on June…

Excitement was in the air at All City Field in Denver on May 27 as the RCHS Varsity Baseball Team took its first ever 5A state title. A number of RCHS baseball players are Castle Pines residents and have been crossing paths with each other since Little League.  Pictured back row, left to right:  Coaches…

Parker Water & Sanitation workers began stocking Rueter-Hess Reservoir with fathead minnows and bluegill last month as part of a phased fish stocking program. By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Parker Water and Sanitation District Days of fun in the sun at the Rueter-Hess Reservoir, a quick drive on Hess Road for most Castle Pines…

By Elizabeth Wood West; photo courtesy of Bob Wiebold Construction at Promenade at Castle Rock (Promenade) is moving forward following the unexpected withdrawal of a referendum petition submitted to the Town of Castle Rock (Town) by residents Keith Lattimore-Walsh and Linda Van Nostran, with the support of Save the Castle Rock Prairie Dogs and Wildlands…

Information provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is gearing up for the 2015 Annual National Night Out celebration on Tuesday, August 4.  The event is a block party of sorts, aimed at making neighborhoods county-wide safer. The purpose of this event is to reduce property crime through neighbors getting…

By Lisa Crockett; photos by Joe Gschwendtner Later this month, the Safeway store on Castle Pines Parkway will close its doors for good. On June 13, nine metro-area stores, including the Castle Pines location, will no longer be in business due to a lack of profitability.  The closure will leave the 59,000 square foot retail…

By Amy Shanahan One in 68 children is affected by autism, and Canyon Fitness was proud to hold its second annual Light It Up Blue event to bring awareness to this statistic.   The event was held at the end of April which is designated Autism Awareness Month, and the club held a fun party…

By Patte Smith Adolescence is a critical time of development for pre-teens and teens.  As these young adults struggle with acceptance, confidence, identity, school, friends and physical changes, their decision-making can be overly influenced by emotions. Their ability to cope is not fully developed and teens may become vulnerable to risky behaviors, such as drugs…

Neil Diamond tribute band Forever in Blue Jeans has a following of loyal listeners and will be performing to a captive Castle Pines audience on June 6.  Check out a pre-event preview at www.foreverinbluejeanslive.com. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Forever in Blue Jeans The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce is excited to host…

Submitted by the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo The Douglas County Fair & Rodeo is actively seeking volunteers age 16 and older to help out with a variety of activities and tasks at the August 6 – 9 Douglas County Fair & Rodeo. What’s in it for you?  By volunteering in the fun, family-friendly community…

Local dignitaries, volunteers, and residents celebrated the commencement of construction of the new library in the City of Castle Pines last month. The library is due for completion late this fall or early this winter. Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Dignitaries and volunteers from the City of Castle Pines and the surrounding areas gathered…

By Patte Smith Farmers markets continue to grow in popularity as consumers’ interest in farm fresh produce grown locally has significantly increased.  Both consumers and farmers have found that they enjoy the opportunity to get to know each other throughout the growing season – it is a win-win for both the shopper and the grower.…

By Patte Smith Several outdoor music concerts are in Castle Pines own backyard.  Pack up a picnic basket and grab the lawn chairs to listen to tunes at the park.   The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce is hosting “Forever in Blue Jeans,”  a Neil Diamond tribute band, at its inaugural Food Truck Frenzy on…

Savannah and Cassidy exhibiting school spirit and collecting donations curbside at the BRE Clean Your Closets event. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Caitlin Streich The Buffalo Ridge Education Alliance (BREA) along with BRE’s Green Team and the community participated in the first Clean Your Closets for BRE event.  The effort benefited BRE, as…

Hall’s hand-milled, re-purposed wood brewhouse east of Parker on a seven-acre homestead where Aubrey Hall also lives. By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of Hall Brewing Co. Craft beers, meaning those that emphasize quality, flavor, and small batch brewing techniques, are a marvelous industry success story.  Douglas County is fertile ground and today home to eight…

Kelly Storick, who will be a junior at Rock Canyon High School this fall, received her license this past November.   By Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of Julie Storick Gone are the days of in-school driver’s education classes, taking a carload of friends to the drive-in, and a mere three-month driving permit.  The rules have…

By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of the Yehle Family Lauren Yehle was recently honored by being one of only 40 high school seniors in the state of Colorado to receive the prestigious Boettcher Scholarship.  Yehle graduated from Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) in May and is a busy, happy, grounded and amazing person who is…

Theresa Bakken keeps bees in McArthur Ranch and produces bottled honey and homemade caramels. Hand made Honey Salted Caramels from the Bee Ranch in McArthur Ranch, are scrumptious local treats reminiscent of another era. Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Spring is in full bloom in Colorado, and honey production is in full swing at…

By Elean Gersack Businesses beware.  Recently, The Castle Pines Connection nearly fell prey to a misrepresentation scam involving the “let your fingers do the walking” logo and wants to make sure everyone is aware of this particular tactic.   The scam has been around for years and ebbs and flows with many variations.  The key…

Residents will most miss the friendly and caring people who were the essence of the Safeway in Castle Pines.  Cashiers Tara (above) and Sandy (below) were an important part of the customer service experience. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner The Safeway Corporation made some tough decisions on store closures last month.  Kris Staaf, Safeway…

Music is an important part of Front Range Christian Church’s ministry. Lead pastor, Ernest Smith, teaches the application of God’s word to everyday life during a Sunday service.  When Ernest is not leading FRCC, he is cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs, playing sports, or pulling for the Broncos who he has supported since he was…

Friends and student council surround the registration table during the swab drive for Lukas Larsson at RCHS. Event organizer Robert Falk got a little direction from his mom Beth while he took his mouth swab.   Lukas (third from left) with friends, Robert Falk, Kimball Eggett, and Will Steffe.  It is time to get on…

Castle Pines neighbors connected at the Master Association’s annual garage sale last month.  To view a fun slideshow of the event, visit www.castlepinesconnection.com and click on “Photo Album.” By Elizabeth Wood West; photo by Lynn Zahorik If you enjoy looking for bargains in a beautiful neighborhood full of nice people, consider visiting Sapphire Pointe’s eighth…

By Amy Shanahan; photos by Lynn Zahorik More than 900 runners from the Castle Pines community and beyond came together on May 2 to participate in the Rise & Run 5K event in support of Denver Police Officer John Adsit who was severely injured in December of last year in the line of duty.  Adsit…

By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Trudi Broschat Rock Canyon High School’s (RCHS) varsity club hockey team won the state championship at Edge Ice Arena in Littleton on May 10.  The final score was 5-2 against Lewis Palmer.  The team won the state championship in 2013 and in 2014 they were the runner up.  Consisting…

By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of  the Gibson, Hilgendorf, Jacobs, McDowell, and Ogden Families ‘Tweens and teens from Castle Pines got spruced up and took on social skills and etiquette for the 21st century during the Jon D. Williams Cotillions’ Spring 2015 Douglas County Cotillion held at The University of Colorado Liniger Building (formerly The…

Members of the Castle Pines Village Garden Club enjoyed showing some sass while being models for the day at the club’s annual banquet and fashion show.  Pictured left to right: Judi Walker, Michele Volkl, Mary Evans, Peggy Schultze, Janice Wright, Kathy Pollock, Liz Clarke, and Rose Essy. Article and photos by Amy Shanahan The annual…

Brad Hansen (center) collected donations during school lunches.  He was aided by his friends Cooper McNeily (left) and Lance Opp (far right). Submitted by RHMS students Amber St. Laurent and Shayna Smith; photos courtesy of Brad Hansen and Jack Thompson “It was really awesome… It was really fun,” said the star and recipient of the…

By Lisa Crockett; photos by Lynn Zahorik Residents descended on the community center last month in search of a good book.  The event, which is held annually, was sponsored by the Castle Pines North Master Association and was organized by event coordinator Carla Kenny.  Kenny was ably assisted by 12 volunteers who collectively spent more…

Pictured above right:  Dr. Malin and Genny Sadler hosted a Castle Pines Chamber ribbon cutting ceremony in May at their new concierge medical practice, For the Family Medical Care in Castle Pines. Article and photo by Elizabeth Wood West Dr. Malin Sadler and wife Genny, owners of For the Family Medical Care, welcomed family, friends,…

A year following her graduation from Rock Canyon High School, Morgan Roos of Castle Pines signed her letter of intent to play basketball at Clemson University in South Carolina.  Roos is the first female ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) basketball player to come out of Colorado. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Kimberly Roos Morgan Roos…

New members of boys team charity Mile High League Nicole and Ryan Wight of Castle Pines participated in Comcast Cares Day at Denver Health on April 25.  The team picked up trash around the hospital grounds, cleaned out flower beds and planted new flowers. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Lesley Gibson Castle Pines residents…

Damp weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the DCS Montessori School community as they gathered to celebrate the end of the school year with great music and great friends.  After the sun went down, Big Hero 6 played on the big screen. The DCS Montessori school held its first ever Summer Celebration last month at…

By Elizabeth Wood West Town of Castle Rock’s (Town) Clerk Sally Misare has determined that citizens collected enough valid signatures for the Promenade referendum petition to authorize the Town to move forward with the referendum process. The petition, brought about after much controversy surrounding the removal/relocation of prairie dogs on the property, seeks to reverse…

2015 Chamber award winners (left to right):  John Medved, Donna Scott, Melanie Calhoun, and Walt Kowalski. Press release and photo provided by Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce The Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce honored John Medved, Donna Scott, Walt Kowalski, Sally Misare, and Melanie Calhoun for their exceptional community efforts April 24 at the Castle…

Pictured above right:  Asarch Center for Dermatology, Laser & Mohs Surgery founder Dr. Richard Asarch (holding scissors), joined with family and friends to celebrate the opening of their new Castle Rock office.   Article and photo by Elizabeth Wood West Asarch Center for Dermatology, Laser & Mohs Surgery (Asarch Center) founding physician Dr. Richard Asarch,…

Castle Pines sisters Chloe and Mia Maciolek brought life to Walt Disney’s classic tale of Sleeping Beauty.  Pictured above,  Prince Phillip defends the sleeping Princess Aurora (Chloe) from the evil Maleficent (Mia). Mia Maciolek (above and below in pink) played Sleeping Beauty in South Suburban Ice Arena’s Fairy Tales on Ice show last month.  Younger…

Elementary school students from Timber Trail and Buffalo Ridge (above) and representatives  from Rock Canyon High School (below) at this year’s Destination Imagination state tournament. By Lisa Crockett; photos courtesy of Christina Kohl Roughly 75 teams from Douglas County schools participated in this year’s Destination Imagination (DI) state tournament, including several from Castle Pines-area schools. …

The Interact club’s final meeting of the year was a celebration of their accomplishments.  Representatives from the Rotary Club of Castle Pines joined the students and their faculty sponsor, along with representatives from two organizations which benefited from the money raised by the club. The Interact club at Rocky Heights Middle School worked on several…

Photo and cutline by Terri Wiebold Saturday, May 15, MAD Greens in Lone Tree opened its doors for business.  According to area manager Jeremy Marshall, “We specialize in custom-made, gourmet salads and our menu is customizable.” Visit MAD Greens at 10002 Commons Street or learn more at www.madgreens.com.

By Elizabeth Wood West  U.S. Congressman Ken Buck is now accepting applications to four of the five U.S. service academies – U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY; U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD; U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY.  (The fifth service academy, U.S. Coast Guard…

Sheriff Tony Spurlock presented RCHS Principal Andy Abner with the Ronald M. King Community Service Award. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) Principal and Castle Pines resident Andy Abner received the Ronald M. King Community Service Award from Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock on May…

Castle Pines Connection staff writer Elizabeth Wood West and her husband Richard enjoyed a lovely dinner at the soft opening of VistaVino in Castle Rock last month.  Check out the back page of the June Food & Dining guide for more information about VistaVino. Article and photo by Elizabeth Wood West Devoted fans of Uniscali…

Jessica Ansay (right) with one of her sweet buddies from The Joshua School in Denver. By Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of the Ansay Family Last summer, the inaugural XDrive Classic Golf Tournament raised more than $33,000 for The Joshua School (TJS) in Denver.  The event returns on Monday, August 3 at The Club at Pradera…

Castle Pines residents Ella Greenhow, Charlie Tucker, Claire Benko, Emerson Yu, Lauren Brockman, and Ava Stotler pose in front of their team display at the Global Expo. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of American Academy The American Academy (AA) Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr.FLL) robotics team participated in the 2015 First World Championship Global…

By RHMS student Riley Busch; photos courtesy of Judi Holst “Yes, there is a world out there and even if you decide you don’t want to meet it, it’s still going to hit you right in the face.  Believe me.  So, best you start thinking about the world now and what it means to you.” …

Pictured front row (left to right):  Rachel Kelly (track, Coe College, IA), Erica Kelly (track, Upper Iowa University), Jack Lamb (track, University of Mary, ND), Tori Ritter, (diving, University of Cincinnati, OH), Joe Bove (tennis, Lake Forest College, IL), Justin Hunter (football, University of Oregon), Brickelle Bro (swimming, Stanford University, CA), Ellie Rich (volleyball, University…

By Amy Shanahan; photos courtesy of Jimmy Dozer The shop owners at the Village at Castle Pines (VACP) kicked off spring in a big way with their inaugural Spring Fling event on April 25th.  Hundreds of neighbors and friends came together to celebrate on a typical Colorado spring day that brought both sunshine and afternoon…