The Connection

After years of traveling far and wide to visit TJ’s, writer Lisa Crockett will finally be able to shop close to home and enjoy her favorite products, as well as new ones. Article and photos by Lisa Crockett I first visited Trader Joe’s (TJ’s) many years ago on a visit to my parents, who live…

City of Castle Pines HOA2 resident and RCHS senior Andrew Nicklanovich advances to first base after a skillfully-executed bunt last season. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Julie Lamb Baseball season means spring is here and the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) baseball team has been working hard for months preparing for the start of…

By Amy Shanahan; courtesy photos Attaining the rank of eagle scout in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is an honor that only a small percentage of scouts receive. However, the Castle Pines community is home to a large number of these young men who have shown the commitment and leadership necessary to achieve the…

Dalton John Lambrecht By Amy Shanahan; photos courtesy of the Lambrecht family and friends Dalton John Lambrecht loved the color purple, air soft, riding four-wheelers, hunting, and a large variety of music. He loved his family and friends, good hugs, and making others feel welcome, loved and important. Dalton embodied all of these things, and…

Castle Pines resident Gregg Brueck is the dedicated athletic trainer for Real Colorado from Children’s Hospital Colorado. Article and photos by Elean Gersack Spring soccer will soon kick into high gear, so it is the perfect time to introduce Castle Pines resident Gregg Brueck to our readers. Brueck is the full-time athletic trainer for Real…

Pine Canyon development, formerly the Woodhouse-Scott Ranch, is a 535-acre mixed-use development that may be annexed later this year by the Town of Castle Rock. By Elizabeth Wood West; site plan courtesy of The Town of Castle Rock Pine Canyon, an expansive 535-acre planned development owned by the JRW Family Limited Partnership (Owner), is being…

By Julie Montoya; courtesy photos Ever look out your window and see a wild turkey staring back at you…or maybe a red tail hawk or a huge owl? Being a resident of Castle Pines, you have probably seen one of these a time or two. Sitting on the cusp of the Rocky Mountains, Castle Pines…

By Steve Baska Six Castle Pines residents were sworn into office during the city council meeting on January 14. Five of those were elected in November. The sixth, Diane Spomer, was appointed as city clerk. The elected officials included Mayor Jeffrey Huff, who was re-elected; new councilmembers Rex Lucas of Ward 1; Resa Labossiere of…

Five Rock Canyon High School senior girls were honored at the Ninth Annual Women in Sports Luncheon. (From left to right) Phoebe Schneider – Cross Country/Track: undecided; Victoria Vanderpoel – Swimming: Pomona College, CA; Jill Finnerty – Soccer: Texas Christian University, TX; Lexy Thorderson – Basketball: San Diego State University, CA; and Kaycie Young –…

Kambree, Kate and Svea work on their poster for “people who buy” in the initial stages of Mrs. Kennedy’s consumer unit. Article and photo by Elean Gersack In January, third graders in Mrs. Kennedy’s class at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) dove headfirst into economics with a consumer awareness unit. As a Colorado state standard, third…

RHMS students Shayna Smith and Emily Wilson competed in a nationwide archery tournament and tied for first place!. According to Smith, the key to being successful at archery is “being calm, focused, having a good attitude, having fun, and enjoying what you are doing!” By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Dorothea Morrow-Smith In only its…

A memorable and meaningful Christmas season was enjoyed by this Castle Pines Village bunco group. Back row: Millie Brister, Lin Giampietro, Angela Williams, Marylou Giampietro, Diane Stavaski. Front row: Nan Wesselink, Susan McCauley, Lisa Bartmann, Allison Wiener, and Angel Resatar. Not pictured: Nancy Hardardt, Alyda Macaluso, and Stacy Gaines. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan…

By Elizabeth Wood West The Town of Castle Rock (Town) approved its financial agreement with Alberta Development (Alberta) and the related metropolitan district for Alberta’s proposed “Promenade at Castle Rock” development project (Promenade). Promenade is a new 200-acre commercial/residential development that may include up to 900,000 square feet of commercial space and approximately 350 multi-family…

Castle Pines residents who joined the new fitness group are, from left, Rose Adamo, Christy Lott, Jillann Turnwall, Tara Broyd, Tracey Hopkins, and Abeer Miller. By Steve Baska; photo courtesy of Marcio Stewart Castle Pines resident Marcio Stewart says a story in the January issue of The Castle Pines Connection about a new program he…

Students in Shawndra Fordham’s Bio Technology class typed questions into a chat queue while Dr. Shawn Burgess, a genome researcher in Maryland, explained his research work on zebrafish and regenerative hearing. Article and photos by Lisa Nicklanovich If your hearing is starting to deteriorate, whether due to age or loud music, listen up; you may…

By Elizabeth Wood West Get ready to caucus – election year 2014 is here. There are many local, state, and national candidate races, campaign events, and assemblies this year for Douglas County voters to participate in. According to the Douglas County Clerk and Recorder’s election office, there are a total of 218,155 registered voters as…

Castle Pines residents Taylor Robinson, Grayson Kamel, Sarah Parker and Ally Fritsch performed in “Willy Wonka” this winter. “Playing an Oompa Loompa in ‘Willy Wonka’ was my favorite part so far because of all the fun dance numbers and the amount of stage time,” remarked Fritsch. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Nancy Fritsch Youth…

Dragonfly Celebrations, a new party-planning business owned by Castle Pines resident Page Warnke, plans celebrations for adults and children alike, like this “pretty and pink” party for a child’s birthday. By Lisa Crockett; photos courtesy of Dragonfly Celebrations Everyone loves a party, but Castle Pines resident Page Warnke loves everything leading up to a party,…

Ginger Whellock is pictured here in front of several of her gorgeous paintings. Whellock paints every day and constantly strives to improve her work. A plaque above her desk in her studio provides inspiration with a quote from Winston Churchill. “The way to achieve happiness is to try for perfection that is impossible to achieve,…

Timber Trail Elementary fifth graders present proposals to reduce waste and conserve energy at the school. Students earned a $2,000 grand from Douglas County School District to help them implement some of their plans. By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Timber Trail Elementary As part of its Project Based Learning (PBL) approach, educators at Timber…

Douglas/Elbert Task Force volunteer Diana Stigleman stocks shelves in the “Birthday Room.” The Task Force provides new toys to children in need who are celebrating a birthday. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett For a family struggling to make ends meet, a little food in the pantry and enough money to pay the utility bill…

The Douglas County Conservation District is now accepting orders for seedling shrubs and trees, available at a nominal cost on a first-come, first-served basis. By Elizabeth Wood West; photos provided by Pam Brewster/Douglas County Conservation District If your green thumbs are itching to get outside this spring and start digging in the dirt, take heart.…

By Elean Gersack It’s February and that means it is National Heart Month. We should be good to our hearts throughout the year, but this month marks a time to give it some extra love and make a commitment to improve heart health. Taking simple steps can help care for your heart. Eat Right –…

Dream Team members Aidan, Riley and Dylan hold the heart shaped suckers that will be on sale February 3 – 7 and delivered on Thursday, February 13. By Avarie P., BRE Ridgeline Staff Reporter Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) is doing something special to spread the love on Valentine’s Day. BRE’s Dream Team is selling heart…

Third grader Marissa Lopez teaches her mom, Liah, how to animate a bouncing ball. Students in a special after-school enrichment class at Timber Trail learned animation techniques that taught computer and problem-solving skills. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett A bouncing ball. It seems like a fairly simple image. Just a single sphere, bouncing a…

By Cindy Kessinger The 1937 musical “Babes in Arms” featured a beautiful valentine song that has been a Valentine’s Day favorite and sung by many greats, including Frank Sinatra. But the lyrics to “My Funny Valentine” are not your typical I love you lyrics. “Your looks are laughable, un-photographable, yet you’re my favorite work of…

By Lisa Nicklanovich Did you make a New Year’s resolution to exercise more, eat better, get organized, or save money?  With these helpful apps on your phone, you might just be able to count yourself in the small percentage of people who actually stick to their resolutions. All apps listed are free and are compatible…

Article and photos by Lisa Crockett A new eatery in town brings a local favorite to the neighborhood. Golden Flame Hot Wings in the Village Square shopping center is the third location in the chain that gained popularity in Aurora. A large selection of wings and famous locally-produced sauces which range in intensity from mild…

Voodoo Doughnuts held its grand opening in Denver in January. The company chose Denver to open its first store outside of Oregon and doughnut lovers are delighted with the funky voodoo magic inside the bright pink building. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Anyone who has lived or spent any time in Oregon or Washington…

Among Kaiser Permanente’s various facilities is a new multi-specialty clinic in Lone Tree. By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Kaiser Permanente Castle Pines resident Kris Leddin is a nurse for Kaiser Permanente Colorado in the allergy department. Until just a few months ago, she worked relatively close to home at Kaiser’s Highlands Ranch Clinic, but in…

By Elean Gersack Denver Restaurant Week (DRW) has made some big changes. The first is timing. Rather than having one two-week period to enjoy a variety of cuisines at a reasonable price, Denverites will now have two one-week opportunities to do so. The weeks planned for 2014 are February 22-28 and August 23-29. “A summer…

RCHS Unified Team players and peer coaches pose for the camera prior to the January 14 scrimmage against Ponderosa High School at RCHS. Article and photo by Michael Shapiro, RCHS intern writer On Tuesday, January 14, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) special education students participated in a unified basketball game with students from Ponderosa High…

Rueter-Hess Reservoir as seen from Hess Road in Castle Pines – not yet filled with water and not yet ready for recreational usage. Article and photo by Steve Baska The Castle Pines City Council on January 14 heard details about a recreation development plan for Rueter-Hess Reservoir, located east of I-25 and Castle Pines Parkway,…

Captions and photos by Lisa Crockett and Elean Gersack At Buffalo Ridge Elementary School, Ashton K. (center) took first place in the school spelling bee after correctly spelling “circadian.” Ashton and fellow fourth graders, Josh (left) and Sienna (right), were all in it together until Ashton came up with the correctly-spelled championship word in round…

By Joe Gschwendtner Last July we briefed our readers on the Castle Pines chapter of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Scholarship Foundation. We now share time-sensitive information that could benefit relatives or people you know. The application window for 2014 – 2015 USMC scholarships will be closing on March 1. With more than $7…

Eighth grade students Dani Shafer, Kaila Tangney, and Isabelle Bailey presented their invention to a team of four “Sharks” during their Shark Tank project. Presentation skills and public speaking were just two of the skills that were perfected during this fun project. By RHMS eighth grade student Maria Pangalos; photo courtesy of RHMS eighth grade…

Linda B. White, M.D. Submitted by The Castle Pines Village Garden Club The Castle Pines Village Garden Club invites all to join from 10:30 a.m to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 7 at the Country Club of Castle Pines for an exciting guest speaker who will discuss herbal medicinal remedies. According to presenter Linda B.…

Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Every country has a special food or two, something that has been perfected in that country in a way no other can duplicate. In Italy, of course, it’s pasta. In France, a baguette and cheese. In Mexico, a fresh, warm tortilla is a delight. And here at home, there’s…

Brownies in Troop 2687, sponsored by Timber Trail Elementary School, have established a Facebook page to help reunite lost pets with their owners. By Lisa Crockett, Photo courtesy of Colleen Odechuck Jackie Hall, who is eight years old, is the proud owner of a guinea pig named Shy – a companion she says she’d be devastated…

Without a formal art background, Kelle McCarter turned her love of style and art and an interest in calligraphy into a successful business. “I’ve reached this point through sheer ignorance and passion!” McCarter remarked. McCarter is pictured here in her home workspace with one of her beloved golden retrievers. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Kelle McCarter is…

Information and map provided by The Town of Castle Rock After a ground breaking ceremony in late October, crews wasted no time getting to work on The Town of Castle Rock’s number one transportation priority, the North Meadows Extension. With much of the site clearing complete, crews will now begin hauling dirt from the Castle…

By Elizabeth Wood West Local business partners and developers Tim White and Doug Decker broke ground last month on their latest commercial project, the Town Center at the Meadows (Town Center) in Castle Rock. The Town Center will be comprised of two commercial buildings connected by a second floor walkway, totaling more than 30,000 square…

The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of McNeill Fine Art Gallery in Castle Pines in late November. Pictured (center) is artist Katherine McNeill alongside her husband (left) and members of the community. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner Katherine McNeill’s Gallery had its opening gala in Castle Pines…

By Elizabeth Wood West Four years ago, Castle Pines Village residents submitted a petition to Douglas County asking for help to reduce the daily, loud, conversation-stopping train horn noise from trains traveling along U.S. Highway 85. Federal law requires train engineers to sound their horns at all crossings for public safety. In response, Douglas County…

Members of the Timber Trail Elementary choir performed last month at Azura Memory Care in Castle Rock. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Timber Trail Elementary students helped jazz up the holidays last month – literally – for a group of residents at Azura Memory Care in Castle Rock. Members of the school’s choir put…

Rina Castanon (pictured in red in center) hosted Forest Park friends to celebrate the season and exchange ornaments as a symbol of friendship. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Rina Castanon “The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it” is the Ralph Waldo Emerson quote that Rina Castanon puts on the invitation to…

(Left to right) Logan Schafer, Rachel Zetwick, Director of Vocal Music Julia Dale, and Emilia Bartelheim. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Katy Zetwick Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) was proud to be the only school in Douglas County to have students selected to the All State Jazz Choir. Three of its students were chosen…

By Elizabeth Wood West; site plan provided by The Town of Castle Rock Alberta Development (Alberta) and The Town of Castle Rock (Town) are close to coming to terms regarding Alberta’s proposed “Promenade at Castle Rock,” a new 200-acre development to be located just north of The Outlets at Castle Rock on the west side…

Pictured right: Castle Pines Valor Vespers performers – left to right: Max Shean (trumpet), Jack Hefner (trombone), Hadleigh Seely (soloist), Tyler Traeger (voice/soloist/guitar), and Bishop Magehee (voice/soloist). Article and photo by Julie Montoya It was a December night of holiday song and dance, as students from Valor Christian High School performed a free music event in…

Article and photo by Elean Gersack Buffalo Ridge Elementary School students read, read and read some more during the school’s Reach Your Reading Peak read-a-thon held during the month of November. All students were encouraged to read 3,000 hours in three weeks and they exceeded the goal by reading 3,271 hours! On Friday, December 6,…

Information provided by the CPACF The Castle Pines Arts and Cultural Foundation (CPACF) offers thanks to all who supported the inaugural Castle Pines commemorative ornament. “We are grateful to Cherokee Ranch & Castle, the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce, the Castle Pines Library, Daz Bog, King Soopers, Starbucks, and above all, to our stellar sellers,…

By Lynne Marsala Basche Domestic violence is personal, difficult to speak about, and happens all around us. Statistics show that one in three individuals will be affected by domestic violence in their lifetime. A victim can be male or female and facing physical, psychological, sexual, or financial abuse. Victims need assistance to break the cycle…

As we enter our sixth year of publication (55 issues to date), we are happy to report that The Castle Pines Connection is growing in distribution, size, readership, and impact. We are thankful for all the readers who send us story ideas and photos every month, and we are especially grateful for our loyal business…

Information provided by the Douglas/Elbert Task Force Get tickets now for the “30 Years of Love Benefit Concert” that will be held on Sunday, February 16 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Douglas County Events Center in Castle Rock. Colorado’s own platinum recording artists “Firefall” will perform two one-hour sets of their hits…

Castle Pines residents Kathi Mercer (pictured in hat) and Jean Givin (not pictured) sponsored a frozen turkey drive to benefit the Denver Rescue Mission’s effort to collect 15,000 turkeys to distribute to needy families and individuals across the Denver area. Thanks to the generosity of many Castle Pines neighbors and friends, Mercer and Givin collected…

Carter Barnes, Cade Varela, Faith Bush, Samera Shim, Ava Maurer & Aneya Goel. Information courtesy of DCS Montessori Kids … have you ever wanted to be an elf for Christmas? Have you ever thought about how fortunate you are? Have you ever wanted to help the less fortunate? Well, Santa’s Elves helps you do just…

By Patte Smith Christmas tree recycling can be found close to home until the end of January in Castle Rock. Trees may be dropped off at any time and will be accepted from December 26 through January 31. Drop-off sites include Centennial Park, 22 North Gilbert Street; Fairgrounds Regional Park, 500 Fairgrounds Drive; Founders Park,…

A Kansas family is re-connected with the long-lost history of a loved one, thanks to a local author and the story The Castle Pines Connection ran about his book a few months ago. Pictured above (left to right) are Ben Kristek, Joyce Binkley, and Ron Binkley. All are holding memorabilia of Phillip Binkley, a World…

Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) varsity cheer team (listed alphabetically):  Ariel Bailey, Halie Balman, Jayla Balman (captain), Ashley Bradley (manager), Claudia Bradley, Peyton Burger, Lauren Fultz, Megan Gaby (captain), Schyler Geck, Clara Goodman (captain), Alisa Grossman, Morgan Hildebrand, Gavi LeBauer, Lily Lytle, Rachel Moote, Caleigh Newberry, Paige Parrottino (captain), Hayley Pearson, Taylor Porter, Emma Roth,…

Many organizations in Douglas County will benefit from the generous donations Coloradans made December 10 on Colorado Gives Day. Nearly 88,000 donations to 1,442 nonprofits were made on this spectacular day of giving. While the final numbers will not be available from the Community First Foundation for a few weeks, initial numbers are upwards of…

Eagle Scout Bray William Polkinghorne completed his eagle scout project at the young age of 14. By Elizabeth Wood West; photo provided by Stephanie Monaghan/Sandy Puc’ Photography Fourteen-year-old Bray William Polkinghorne is quite young to have achieved the rank of eagle scout. Perhaps the reason is because Polkinghorne joined the Boy Scouts of America in the first…

The Navigator team of eighth grade students at RHMS conducted interviews of experts in order to gain background information for their National History Day projects. On December 11, forty visitors came to RHMS to be interviewed and filmed on a wide variety of topics. Article contributed by RHMS eighth grade students Karen Yi and Nashira…

This talented group of young football players didn’t let their Super Bowl loss get them down. The team has been together for five years and have recorded only three losses, and have played in the Super Bowl every year. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Archie Anderson For the fifth consecutive year, this team of DC…

Kindergartner Daxs represented France and delighted guests to his country with homemade crêpes (with a little help from his dad). Daxs’ favorite part of France is unquestionably the Eiffel Tower. Article and photo by Elean Gersack On Friday, December 6, a three-week journey into other lands and cultures came to a fun conclusion with a World Fair…

By Lisa Crockett There’s a new sheriff in town. Or rather, a team of deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) that will spend the next year working exclusively in Castle Pines. Previously, officers were rotated through the community on a quarterly basis. However, starting in late January, Deputies Anthony McClarnon, Andy Glenn, Corey…

By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Janell Lewis These kids – all residents of Castle Pines – found a fun way to reach out to those less fortunate this holiday season. The group filled 25 boxes with fun, simple gifts for kids like clothes, toys, toothbrushes, Chapstick, lip gloss, tools, flash lights, flip flops, books, decks…