Read the stories from the latest issue:
Heather Cunningham, third grade teacher at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School, spends time working with a few of her students. Article and photos by Elean Gersack It’s all in a days work … or maybe not. Heather Cunningham, a third grade teacher at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School, set her sights high on re-designing her classroom to…
Timber Trail Elementary Principal Michele Radke takes the ice bucket challenge. Article and photos by Lisa Crockett A good teacher knows that good learning experiences can be found just about anywhere if you know where to look. The “ice bucket” challenge for ALS research was just such a learning opportunity. Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) fifth…
By Amy Shanahan; photos courtesy of Charisse Broderick King One-hundred-twenty golfers spent a beautiful day at Sanctuary Golf Course off Daniels Park Road in Sedalia to support the 10th annual Regis Jesuit (RJ) Fall Classic Golf Tournament. The golf tournament is the school’s primary fundraiser for the tuition assistance program, which enables students from all…
CPV Green Ladies 3.0 team members compete in sectionals August 22-24 in Salt Lake City. Pictured left to right, back row: Karin Miller, Sue Crisman, Sandy Cranston, Christy Notary, Alison Barbaro, and Cheryl Pack. Pictured left to right, front row: Bernie Rottschafer, Mayme McDonald (captain), and Carol Lail (captain). Not pictured: Katie Abner and Mary…
Friends, Zach and Aidan, get ready to take a run at Steamboat in 2013. Hurry up and get your passes and get ready for the upcoming ski and snowboard season! By Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of the Lauretti Family In no time at all, the mountains will be covered with fresh powder and it will…
Larissa Herda (left), chairman and CEO of tw telecom was thrilled to present a check to Diana Goldberg (right), executive director of SungateKids. Money continued to come in throughout the day, with the total donation reaching more than $420,000. By Amy Shanahan, photos courtesy of Bob Meldrum Local Douglas County business tw telecom was pleased…
By Amy Shanahan; courtesy photos The BMW Championship golf tournament was a huge draw for golf fans from all over Colorado and the world, and Castle Pines had its fair share of participation. Hundreds of residents spent time at Cherry Hills Country Club (CHCC) enjoying gorgeous weather and celebrity sightings of the world’s best golfers,…
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos by Dave Tweed and courtesy of Michael Martin Photography Before reporting for medical and physical tests and lacing up skates for training camp, the 2014 Avalanche players, coaches, and front office staff hosted the 18th Colorado Avalanche Charity Golf Classic (Golf Classic) at The Ridge at Castle Pines North (The…
By Elizabeth Wood West It is hard to imagine that only four years ago Wellspring Community (Wellspring) consisted of four young ladies with special needs sitting at a kitchen table and learning how to bake cookies with Wellspring’s founder, Mary Lou Fenton. Today, Wellspring offers year-round work and enrichment programs, as well as social programs…
The Castle Pines community shred-it event served the community in more ways than one this year. Not only did residents recycle 7,000 pounds of paper, but their voluntary contributions raised $1,356 for the DCS Montessori School’s technology fund. Pictured above: Operators Joe (far left) and Steve (far right) pause for a photo with event sponsors…
Earl Lee (second from the right), president of Berkshire Hathaway, joined Broker/Owner Don Bobeda (right) and the staff of the Castle Pines office for lunch as part of the office’s kick off ceremonies this summer. By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Don Bobeda At the public grand opening of Berkshire Hathaway in Castle Pines this…
Castle Pines Briar Ridge Court neighbors had a blast getting to know more about the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and also more about their own neighbors. More than 50 neighbors gathered for this fun and uniting community event. By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos City streets and county roads were filled with Castle Pines residents on…
By Elizabeth Wood West; site plan provided by Alberta Development Partners, LLC This site plan for Promenade at Castle Rock was submitted to the Town of Castle Rock for review and approval. The upper grey portion (just to the right of center) shows the existing Outlets at Castle Rock at roughly 478,000 square feet, less…
This open parcel of land south of Castle Pines Parkway and west of Lagae Road in the City of Castle Pines is the location that is being considered for a 200-unit apartment complex. Article and photo by Steve Baska A national apartment complex developer is considering building a 200-unit complex on 10 acres on the…
Runners warmed up for the 2013 Run Wild event at Elk Ridge Park in Castle Pines. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos by Dave Tweed 2013 Color Me Wild participants displayed their true colors. Sneakers? Check. Community spirit? Check. Picturesque course map? Check. It is time to join your friends, family, neighbors, and dogs for the…
By Patte Smith; illustrations courtesy of Regional Transportation District The Regional Transportation District (RTD) board of directors voted in July to move forward with a $207 million extension of the existing Southeast Light Rail Line in Douglas County. The vote was a key step in RTD’s move efforts to receive federal funds for the project.…
Congratulations to all of the Douglas County Library volunteers who received the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Those honored included six Castle Pines residents among the 101 library volunteers who were recognized. Three Castle Pines residents are pictured here: Front row, fourth from right, Roger Williams. Peeking over Roger’s shoulder is Loralee Kaschinske, and sixth person…
The City of Castle Pines is working in partnership with business owners to develop plans, like this pedestrian walkway, which will make the downtown area of Castle Pines more of an inviting gathering place for both residents and visitors. The new library, which is slated to open in 2016 in the Village Square Shopping area,…
Submitted by KerriAnne Mukhopadhyay, Town of Castle Rock; follow up to front page story from the June issue of The Connection Adventure seekers can soon get a bird’s-eye view of the Town of Castle Rock thanks to a new amenity planned at Philip S. Miller Park. In August, Town Council approved a lease agreement with…
By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of Ron Hanavan Friends, family, and colleagues joined together at Cielo at Castle Pines in August to celebrate the retirement of Sheriff David A. Weaver. Along with many well-wishes, Weaver was presented with framed flags to commemorate his 33-year service with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. “I am very proud…
By Elizabeth Wood West Fall classes have begun for the University of Colorado South Denver (CU South Denver) and Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Denver/Anschutz) in their new facilities at The Wildlife Experience – a wildlife art/natural history museum and cultural center located one mile east of I-25 at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Peoria…
Castle Pines Village resident Dr. Larry Odekirk serves as a ship’s doctor on Holland America cruise ships, traveling around the world. Odekirk has been a family practice physician for years and is still in practice at Three Oaks Medicine in Castle Rock. By Elizabeth Wood West; photos provided by Dr. Larry Odekirk, Jody Anderson McMahon,…
Kristin Adams, owner of Elements Therapeutic Massage Submitted by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce In August, Elements Therapeutic Massage in Castle Rock was named “Studio of the Year” by Wellbiz Brands, Inc. out of 180 studios nationwide. Owners (and Castle Pines Village residents)Mark and Kristin Adams accepted the award in Naples, Florida. “We could…
Castle Pines Councilperson Tara Radloff (left), Jameson Benson (center), and Castle Pines Mayor Jeff Huff (right) took a moment for a photo together when Benson was named Lady in Waiting Princess Attendant at the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo last month. By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Carla Kenny Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) junior…
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit comes to Castle Rock By Lisa Crockett; photos courtesy of Dickey’s Barbecue Dickey’s Barbecue, with its signature original sauce and slow hickory smoking technique, has been a Texas favorite since the early 1940s. With recipes that have stood the test of time, what used to be a regional favorite is now spreading…
Volunteer and Castle Pines resident Doug Moen opens and cleans out a bluebird box at Cherokee Castle & Ranch. Article and photos by Steve Baska Protecting the lovely bluebird was a passion for Tweet Kimball, late owner of the historic Cherokee Castle & Ranch off Daniels Park Road, and that project continues today. About 200 nesting…
More than $50,000 in scholarship money was awarded to staff members from the Country Club at Castle Pines. Executive Board member Archie Anderson (far left) and Employee Scholarship Foundation President Cindy Lantz (far right) recognized each of the winners at an awards reception on August 6. Pictured left to right: Cody Kent, Lauren Simpson, Reed…
Wildflowers in Colorado are in full bloom, even into early fall Article and photo by Joe Gschwendtner This picturesque meadow of penstemons is located on the Gothic Road in Crested Butte and was still in full bloom in August when this photo was taken. The heavy rainfall has made for a longer bloom season for…
By Steve Baska; photos courtesy of Carla Kenny The summer concert series in Castle Pines has been a hit with residents and a success for the sponsor, the Castle Pines North Master Association. The final concert will be held September 7 at Coyote Ridge Park. The concerts have drawn hundreds of people who bring lawn…
By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of the Dumb Friends League On Saturday, September 20 from 8 a.m. to noon, dogs and their owners are invited to unite at Glendale Farm Open Space for a romping good time on the trails. The event includes a 1.6-mile hike, and doggie participants can also play in the open…
Left to right: Caroline (8), Melissa (11), and Christopher (5) Caid of Castle Pines Village after reaching the summit of Mt. Sherman at 14,036 feet on July 27. At five years old, Christopher is one of the youngest climbers to reach the summit completely unassisted. Melissa, who organized the climb said, “I felt like I…
Adams biked 112 miles through the Maritime Alps during the 2014 Ironman France competition. By Elizabeth Wood West; photos courtesy of Mark Adams Mark Adams has always enjoyed swimming, biking, and running for recreation and fitness. However, after watching men and women compete at the 2012 Ironman Texas event, Adams’ idea of recreational fitness would…
By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of Katie Abner In anticipation of school starting, families at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) hit the weeds, rocks, and more to freshen up the exterior of the building before the first day of classes. Katie and Andy Abner live just around the corner from the school and initiated the…
Just peachy: fresh, late-summer delights Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Harvest is in full swing. With the bounty that is available at the supermarket and the farmers market, it can be hard to decide what’s best to have for dinner. Corn, beets, potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts, and more zucchini than you can shake a…
Article and photo by Elean Gersack Summer break isn’t for everyone. Plenty was happening behind the scenes at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) this summer to help gear up for another great year. Over the summer, the walls around the building got a good cleaning before being brought to life. Gone is the boring beige…
By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Woody Howarth Sterling Building & Design was pleased to premiere its showcase homes in Castle Pines Village during a luxury tour on August 10. Several hundred people toured the homes and enjoyed refreshments, beautiful views, and spectacular craftsmanship in the one-of-a-kind homes. Builder and designer Woody Howarth remarked, “The…
By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Audrey Will Castle Pines Village resident Max Will (left) was enjoying the Colorado Rockies game against the Cincinnati Reds on August 15 when he saw a fly ball coming directly at him. Will reached out and caught the ball bare-handed! Soon after, a Rockies stadium manager approached Will to…
A great group of girls from First Tee of Denver enjoyed spending a day at The Country Club at Castle Pines on July 22. The girls enjoyed golfing and lunch with members of the Ladies 18-Hole Association. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Brian Nishi The Ladies 18-Hole Association at The Country Club at Castle…
A bear sighted leaving a Surrey Ridge yard after visiting the bird feeder. Two black bears that are very dark in color – a cub and its mom – have also been seen roaming around Castle Pines as well as Surrey Ridge this year looking for food sources. By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Lesca…
The RCHS Touchdown Club hosted a family barbecue following the game on August 16 to bring all players and families together to build community. Here, Coach Lamb regroups with the team as they prepare to kick off the RCHS 2014 season. By Kathy Fallert; photo by Dave Tweed Starting his second year as Rock Canyon…
Seven-year-old Brady knows cars, and he loved checking them out at the Hot Rods in the Village car show in August. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Several hundred people turned out in August to enjoy a gorgeous summer day and some really cool cars. The sixth annual “Hot Rods in the Village” car show…
The Douglas/Elbert Task Force’s (D/ETF) 11th annual Sassy Soiree fundraiser will be held on Friday, September 12 at the Douglas County Events Center in Castle Rock. Sassy Soiree includes a luncheon, runway fashion show, silent and live auctions, and boutique shopping. This lively mid-day charity event benefits the emergency services provided by the D/ETF, a…
The Joseph family’s combined efforts have resulted in raising both money and awareness for Urban Peak and homeless youth throughout the Denver area. Pictured below left to right: Jeff and Kirby Joseph, Justin Joseph, Josh Benker, and Cheryl and Gary Joseph. By Amy Shanahan; courtesy photos The second annual Urban Nights event in support of…
These five outstanding incoming eighth grade students at Rocky Heights Middle School were chosen to attend Rotary International’s leadership camp based on their grades, community service, and leadership abilities. Left to right: Renee Palmer (co-chair), Joshua Bullock, Coco Wang, Liam Zdravecky, Madison Tran, Bryce Duston, and Gary Bartmann (co-chair). Not pictured: Allison Bordeaux, Ashley Bordeaux,…
By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Nicole Dina Photography Castle Pines resident Brianne MacEachran owns Brass Elephant Consulting, a firm that provides education planning and college admission consulting services to help students reach their educational goals. School is in full swing here in Castle Pines, and students are settling into the task at hand. High…
These outstanding eighth grade students were chosen to serve as school leaders at Rocky Heights Middle School. Castle Pines resident Phoebe Tweed is excited for her year. “I’m looking forward to giving presentations to classes and helping other students be successful in middle school,” Tweed remarked. By Amy Shanahan; photo by Dave Tweed Rocky Heights…
Hidden Pointe residents Michelle and Amber Cambell (on left) take part in a fused glass workshop at Art On The Edge in Castle Rock where Castle Pines artists have their art displayed. By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos Evette Goldstein is a calligraphist who teaches out of her Castle Pines studio and at Arapahoe Community College.…
A few of the Wacky W participants lined up in front of Rocky Heights Middle School for the 2013 race. Race routes can be found at www.wackyw.com. By Patte Smith; courtesy photo Calling all Wacky bicyclists – grease those gears, put on the helmet, climb into those flashy riding togs, and head over to Rocky…
Fifth grader Megan Ruder gets comfortable on a buoy stool, one of the new pieces of equipment in the Timber Trail Elementary library. Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) is starting a new year with lots of new tools for students in its library. Using funds raised by the Timber Trail…
By Amy Shanahan; photo by Dave Tweed The annual Kids Carnival in Castle Pines Village (CPV) took place on August 9 and all of the kids who attended had a blast! The CPV parks and recreation committee hosted the annual event, and they really outdid themselves this year with a bounce house, bounce obstacle course,…
Submitted by The Douglas County School District The number one priority of the Douglas County School District (DCSD) is the safety of our students and staff. We understand that if our students and staff are not safe, nothing else matters. When we say safety, we mean it in the broadest sense. We mean physical, psychological…
Article and photo by Lynne Marsala Basche Calling all former superheroes, princesses, animals, and insects. It is time to scour closets, rummage through drawers and dig through storage areas to dust off Halloween costumes for the Second-Thrill Spooktacular! When families are struggling to pay bills or buy food, getting a child a Halloween costume is…
Grammy Award-winning country singer Kacey Musgraves performed her hit song “Follow Your Arrow” at the 2014 Grammy Awards. (Press photo) By Amy Shanahan, photos courtesy of Megan Rees and the DFL Grammy Award-winning country singer Kacey Musgraves headlined the 13th annual Lulu’s Barkin’ BBQ on August 1 in Castle Pines Village (CPV). Musgraves, who also…
Photo courtesy of Brian Nishi Several members of the Ladies 9-Hole Golf Association at The Country Club at Castle Pines showed spirit at their annual fundraiser in support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Information and map provided by Susan G. Komen Colorado As we eagerly anticipate the 2014 Susan G. Komen Colorado Race for the Cure in Denver September 28 at the Pepsi Center, we are thrilled to announce several exciting changes to this year’s Race, including a new Race route, more parking, and a later race start…
Someone mentioned getting into an “X’”for Fragile X Syndrome and literally moments later it happened! By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of The Ansay Family The first-ever XDrive Classic Golf Tournament to support significant special needs children at The Joshua School (TJS) in Denver was held on Monday, August 4 at The Club at Pradera in…
By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of Aspen Walker These gentlemen golfers donned dresses at the 6th hole to take advantage of the opportunity to tee off from the women’s tee instead of the men’s tee. It was a day full of fun at the annual Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce golf tournament, “A Day on…
Castle Pines Storm front row left to right: Head coach (and post-grad secretary at Rock Canyon High School) Christina Kwon, Ben Brown, Claire Isert, Sam Isert, and Kaitlyn Brown. Back row: Derrick Fraser, Max Mills, Edward Yi, and Jacob Brown. The majority of the team is comprised of HOA 1 and HOA 2 residents. By…
By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Kristin Ruder Team “Wine, Not Whine,” comprised mostly of athletes from Castle Pines, took first in their age division for the Ragnar Trail relay this summer in Snowmass. Top row, from left: Jennifer Faulkner, Teri Scott, Jennifer Caughlin; bottom row, from left: Gwen Karaba, Kristen Narlinger, Kerri Zukosky, Kristin…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos by Cindy Cranstone and Dave Tweed; courtesy photos Jerod Anderson turned 20 in June and is already making our community more colorful. A KnightsBridge resident for the last 13 years, Anderson graduated from Rock Canyon High School two years ago and is now headed into his junior year of college at…
Photo and caption by Elean Gersack Congratulations to the Castle Pines Womens 3.0 Green tennis team! The ladies are headed to state championships in early August. The ladies won their flight playoff match on Saturday, July 12 against Highlands Ranch Gold, 4-1. Pictured left to right: Sue Crisman, Alison Barbaro, Katie Abner, Mary Shannon Balakas,…
By Patte Smith Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) joins the celebration of Colorado’s acceptance into statehood with free access to all Colorado State Parks on Monday, August 4. (Colorado Day is a state observance on August 1.) Park entrance fees are waived, but activities like fishing and camping will still require a valid license or…
By Lisa Crockett Secure document shredding, provided by Shred-It, will be available free of charge to the Castle Pines community on Saturday August 9 from 9 a.m. until noon at the DCS Montessori School. Participants in the event will be invited to make a voluntary donation to DCS Montessori’s school technology fund. The event is…
Delicious nostalgia at Bonnie Brae Article and photos by Lisa Crockett There’s a certain magic in some foods. Taking ordinary ingredients and transforming them into something delicious is a small miracle, really. This is true of many foods, but it is especially true of ice cream. Cream, milk and sugar mixed with a little time…
Information provided by The Colorado Department of Transportation The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has two projects in the works that will directly impact drivers on I-25 between Lincoln Avenue and Dry Creek Road. Direct Lane Pilot Program On Monday July 14, CDOT launched a pilot program on southbound I-25 starting near Dry Creek and…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Colorado Children’s Chorale Group in front of the Jaromerice Chateau, Trebic, Czech Republic. From Castle Pines are Jack Barton (2nd row, sixth from right), and Hayden Arnold (2nd row, fourth from right). From Castle Rock are Emily Keely (front row, third from left) and Leah Doogan (front row, fifth…
By JulieAnna Reinhardt; photos courtesy of Andy Amick Hitting the open road will never look the same for one Castle Pines resident who took to it on the saddle of a mountain bike! They call it the Great Divide Ride, a 2,745-mile journey from Banff, Alberta, Canada across the entire United States to Antelope Wells,…
Information and photos provided by Douglas County On Monday night, July 21, 18th Judicial District Judge Paul A. King (right) swore in David A. Weaver (left) as the new Douglas County Commissioner District I. David A. Weaver was appointed on July 21 by the Douglas County Republican Party Vacancy Committee to serve the remaining six-month…
By Lisa Crockett It’s August, a time of year that many of us of a certain age equate with the last days of summer vacation. For most students in Douglas County Schools, however, class is in session well before even a hint of fall is in the air. School calendaring decisions are made by individual…