The Connection

A little – no make that a lot of rain didn’t stop the action as the DCSM fun run moved indoors this year to raise funds for the school. By Kathy Dunker; photos courtesy of DCSM Friday, September 13 was not unlucky for the DCS Montessori Charter School (DCSM) as it held its 3rd annual…

Chairperson Paige Taylor congratulates then-kindergartener Grant with a hug and a medal as he finished the race in 2011! Article and photo by Elean Gersack Buffalo Ridge Rock Slide is October 5 Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) will host its annual Rock Slide Fun Run on Saturday, October 5, at 9 a.m. The race will…

Information provided by RTD The citizen’s group responsible for advising the Regional Transportation District (RTD) on its FasTracks program is seeking new committee members who are interested in public transit issues. Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is looking for individuals interested in serving on this all-volunteer panel. Applicants will be considered for positions expiring in December…

A new approach to learning and teaching is under way at RHMS, whereby students are being taught through collaborative, project-based methods. Currently, the eighth grade students are working on a Denver tourism challenge in which groups of students are tasked with putting together a multimedia presentation based on bringing tourism to Denver. Article and photo…

Congressman Cory Gardner spoke to Castle Pines Chamber members and local business leaders at the Rockyard American Grill and Brewing Company in Castle Rock. By Steve Baska; photo courtesy of Carla Kenny U.S. Representative Cory Gardner spoke to Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce members and local business leaders about tax reform and other issues at…

Players on the Castle Pines Athletics kindergarten team Blue Sharks focus on the game at Daniels Gate Park. By Liz Jurkowski Once again, Saturdays are filled with the sound of cheering parents and kicking balls at every park and playground in Castle Pines. Soccer season is in full swing now, with young athletes in the…

Volunteers in 19th century costumes are preparing to make ketchup on the 1860s farm. The barn and old windmill is next to the Blacksmith’s shop at the Littleton Museum. Article and photos by Liz Jurkowski Who knew that an outstanding living history museum exists less than a half hour from the City of Castle Pines?…

Information provided by CRCGT The Castle Rock Community Green Team (CRCGT) needs volunteers to work one, two-hour shift per month at the Castle Rock reclying center.  The Community Recycling Center, located at 701 Prairie Hawk Drive, is open to the public every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., year round. Contact volunteer coordinator Peggy…

The lovely Sanctuary Golf Course was the setting for the ninth annual Fall Classic Charity Golf Tournament in support of Regis Jesuit. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan The ninth annual Regis Jesuit (RJ) Fall Classic Golf Tournament was held on September 11 at the beautiful Sanctuary Golf Course in Castle Pines. The rainy day…

The middle school building at DCS Montessori is under construction and is expected to be finished after the winter break. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Seventh and eighth graders at the DCS Montessori (DCSM) in Castle Pines should have a new place to call home by the first of the year, according to Mike…

Master gardeners of Castle Pines contest judges (left to righ): Harriette Einolf, 11-year Forest Park resident, 7-year master gardener; Ellie Landry, 15-year Royal Hill resident, 6-year master gardener; Cathy Robinson, 15-year Glen Oaks resident, 3-year master gardener; Margaret Hayward, 1-year Hidden Pointe resident, 10-year master gardener; Carol Grant, 17-year Retreat resident, 2-year master gardener; and…

Carriage rides, pumpkin patch picking, and much more at the Colorado Agriculture Leadership Foundation’s (CALF) annual Harvest Day. By Elizabeth Wood West; photos courtesy of CALF The Colorado Agriculture Leadership Foundation (CALF) invites the public to celebrate fall ranching and farming traditions at its annual Harvest Day. This popular family event will be held on…

Information provided by The Women’s Crisis & Family Outreach Center The Women’s Crisis & Family Outreach Center (TWCFOC) will be holding its 6th Annual Future for Families Gala on Friday, November 8 at the Inverness Hotel and Conference Center in Englewood. The event will be from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. This year’s Mistress of…

Castle Pines residents came out to get colorful during theCastle Pines second annual Run Wild event. The much-anticipated color run was the main event, with volunteers lining the route outfitted with paint powder to decorate the runners. Article and photos by Julie Montoya After what many called the five-hundred-year flood, Mother Nature didn’t stop more…

Information provided by Douglas County Libraries Call your babysitter now. Douglas County Libraries is inviting you to join in for Books, Bites and Brews on November 9 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Cielo at Castle Pines. The event will feature tastes and demonstrations from locally-authored cookbooks and local chefs, as well as a…

Open house set for October 12 By Elean Gersack It’s time to celebrate! The Medical and Dental Center of Castle Pines is now open for business. Bring the whole family and join in on the grand opening festivities planned for Saturday, October 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be plenty of fun…

By Steve Baska The Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD)’s effort to transition the residents of Castle Pines from unsustainable well water in the Denver Basin Aquifer System to renewable water has resulted in its necessity to develop, refine, and adopt a comprehensive and actionable Strategic Renewable Water Implementation Program. CPNMD is currently holding a…

The Susan G. Komen Denver Affiliate 2013 Race for the Cure Committee. The race was held on September 29 to kick off the October observance of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Castle Pines Connection Advertising Account Sales Manager Cindy Cranstone (fourth from right on top row) uses her experience as a breast cancer survivor to fuel…

Left – The Old Stone Church, 210 Third Street in Castle Rock. Right – Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce, 420 Jerry Street By Elizabeth Wood West; photos courtesy of Douglas County History Research Center As Halloween draws near, ghost stories are as much a must-have as carved pumpkins and spooky decorations. Ghost stories are even…

Joanie Micale is dubbed the Queen of Halloween by friends and members of her book club. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Cindy Cranstone Joanie Micale looks forward to the month of October every year, and it’s not because there is a nip in the air. Castle Pines Village resident Micale is crazy for all…

Daniels Park bison herd and new spring calves. By Elizabeth Wood West; photo courtesy of Denver Mountain Parks Daniel’s Ridge resident Virginia Dawson recently contacted The Castle Pines Connection, wanting to know the outcome of our May 2011 story regarding water for the Daniels Park bison herd. Dawson asked, “Since we have not seen the…

Information provided by Douglas County A residential only multi-product recycling event accepting electronics, personal documents for shredding, and clothing donations will be held on Saturday, October 5 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Castle View High School, located at 5254 N. Meadows Drive in Castle Rock. Personal document shredding is limited to four file-size…

By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Smart Treats Castle Pines resident Ranee Wilson is passionate about helping area schools and providing wholesome snacks to the students at those schools. After working as a volunteer parent at the DCS Montessori School in Castle Pines for several years, Wilson saw the need for a way to combine…

By Kathy Dunker It’s that time of year again for the annual DCS Montessori (DCSM) parents, teachers, staff, and students to gear up for the Fun Run on Friday, September 13. The school’s goal this year is to raise $50,000. A target amount of $100 per student in pledges has been set to help them…

Castle Pines was well-represented among the patrons who showed up for the Cabela’s grand opening celebration in Lone Tree. Above left to right: AJ Cocetti, Evan Kellogg, Justin Galbraith, Chris Dixon, Nick Merrill, and Dale McMillan. Article and photo by Terri Wiebold The grand opening of the new 110,000 square-foot Cabela’s store in Lone Tree…

Eighteen crew members of the minesweeper USS Quail, after being ordered on May 6, 1942 to scuttle their ship to prevent her from capture, journeyed in this 36-foot Navy motor launch from the island of Corregidor, Philippines more than 2,000 miles to safety in Australia. By Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of Tim Deal Tim Deal…

By Elean Gersack Enjoy fall golf at its best while connecting with community members and business owners and supporting a great cause. The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce will host its second annual golf tournament on Tuesday, October 1 at The Ridge at Castle Pines North. The tournament will benefit The Wellspring Community. The shotgun…

Bryan Warnecke, nicknamed “Pink Lightning” by his ice hockey coach, crosses the finish line! By Elean Gersack; courtesy photos July 20 through 22 marked a special weekend for several Castle Pines residents. Together with hundreds of other cyclists, they took to the hills in support of pint-sized patients at Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado). The…

The 12U Armour baseball team won back-to-back state championships on August 1 in Cooperstown, New York. Pictured left to right, back row: Geno Macias, Coach John Cornelio, Lance Opp (CP), Coach Mike Bard, Riley Cornelio, Justin Olson, Ethan Frasier, Jett Hoggatt, Head Coach Gene Macias, Coach Tim Estes. Front row: Hank Bard, Evan Mason, Jake…

Nancy Hardardt and her husband Steve found both “lost shakers of salt.” Hardardt remarked, “We enjoyed a wonderful evening with good friends, great food and music at the country club’s margaritaville party!” By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of The Country Club at Castle Pines A sold-out crowd attended the much-touted “party of the year” at…

Kids from Castle Pines Real Colorado team the Lightning Cheetahs won the U7 2013 Super Kick It 3v3 Soccer Regional Tournament in Vail in July. Pictured above left to right: Jayse Rand, Ethan Cheung, Zachary Lorenzo, Becker McClure, Damiano Venturi, and Cameron Buie.Lightning Photo courtesy of Jane Taylor

Darick D’Ercole, owner of Tactical Supply Bravo in Centennial, with an M1A 308 sniper rifle. The rifle was manufactured in the early 1960s and has been upgraded by D’Ercole with modern parts. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Castle Pines resident Darick D’Ercole recently opened Tactical Supply Bravo in Centennial. It’s a one-stop gun shop…

The Highlands Ranch Composite Mountain Bike Team meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the Mountain Vista High School parking lot. The team is open to all high school students who have an interest in developing their athletic skills while enjoying outdoor recreation in a team environment. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of…

Volunteers collect items to distribute to James Resource Network clients. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of James Resource Network It could be the dad sitting on the park bench, watching his children play. Maybe it is the mom living in the beautiful house you admire when you pick your child up from a play…

By Lisa Crockett More than a year after announcing new stores in Boulder and Denver, California-based Trader Joe’s has announced a third location in Greenwood Village. The new location will give Castle Pines residents easy access to the specialty grocer, known for unique snacks, organic food, and the ever-popular “Two Buck Chuck,” Charles Shaw wine.…

Commemorative holiday ornaments are being sold as a fundraiser for the Castle Pines Arts and Cultural Foundation. Ornaments are now on sale at the Castle Pines Library, The Ridge at Castle Pines North Golf Course, The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce, and Castle Pines Walgreens. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Christmas is still months…

Custom needlepoint finishing – like this pillow featuring a needlepoint canvas — is at the heart of Karen Barton’s home-based business, The Pine Needle Shop. In early September, The Colorado Needlepoint Roadshow – an event Barton is co-hosting – will bring needlepoint vendors and teachers to Castle Pines. By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Karen…

By Patte Smith Time to break out of day in, day out of “eat breakfast, get lunch and cook dinner.” Sounds monotonous and it is. Well on September 8 say “no more!” and give your palate a real treat.  The American Culinary Federation Colorado Chefs Association (ACFCCA) and Douglas County School District (DCSD) Nutrition Services…

Article and photos by Amy Shanahan The fifth annual Hot Rods in the Village Car Show took place on a beautiful, hot sunny day in The Village at Castle Pines. With more than fifty participants, attendees enjoyed viewing everything from vintage coupes and sedans to classic trucks, muscle cars, and hot rods. The event was…

Families arrived early with blankets and chairs, ready for an evening of  fun for the Master Association’s Movie in the Park event. The movie started just as the last rays of sun disappeared. Article and photos by Liz Jurkowski There was a great turnout in August for the movie in the park event hosted by…

Party guests got up close and personal with pets from the Dumb Friends League. Article and photos by Julie Montoya For the past twelve years, Castle Pines Village residents Fred and Jana Bartlit have celebrated their love for animals by hosting a fundraiser like no other! This year’s Lulu’s Barkin’ BBQ topped them all, raising…

Kindergartener Hailey Withey, age five, heads to her first day of school at Timber Trail Elementary last month accompanied by her mom Lindsley. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett The new school year brings the usual changes – new classes, new teachers and new friends. But Timber Trail Elementary School (TTE) is also rolling out…

Castle Pines resident Mary Barnes has spent much of her life playing the cello. She does it all as a performer and board member of the Lone Tree Symphony, as well as a local music teacher, wife, mother and businesswoman. By Julie Montoya; photo courtesy of Mary Barnes Local resident Mary Barnes does it all.…

By Elizabeth Wood West; project overview provided by the Town of Castle Rock The Town of Castle Rock (Town) has completed the design and is moving closer to the construction of an overpass that will provide a secondary access for northbound traffic coming from The Meadows development onto U.S. Highway 85 in Castle Rock. The…

The CCCP scholarship recipients enjoyed a reception in their honor and each of them spoke to the gathered crowd about the impact the scholarship will have on their lives. Pictured left to right: Danielle Compton, Cody Kent, Torin McCue, Tyler Wagstaff, and Jonathan Friesen. Not pictured is Collin Miller. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan…

Information and photo provided by Elements Business owners (and Castle Pines Village residents) Mark and Kristin Adams are celebrating their fifth anniversary since opening Elements Therapeutic Massage studio in Castle Rock. A celebration open house is planned for September 7 at the studio. “We’re celebrating by thanking all of our clients, past and present who…

Sapphire Pointe resident and “Attention to Detail” business owner Anne Daniel. By Elizabeth Wood West; photo courtesy of Anne Daniel After spending more than twenty-five years providing managerial, executive secretarial, payroll, human resources, personal assistance, and dozens of other services for a wide variety of corporations, Sapphire Pointe resident Anne Daniel has built an impressive…

Crews work to remove potentially dangerous ladder fuels as part of the Pine Ridge HOA fire mitigation efforts. By Steve Baska; photo courtesy of Barbara Saenger The Pine Ridge neighborhood on the west side of Castle Pines cut back about 60 percent of the scrub oak in the open space near its homes in July…

By Elizabeth Wood West The Colorado State Demography Office estimates that by 2030, one in four (or approximately 24 percent) Douglas County residents will be age 60 or older. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median age for residents in the 80108 zip code, although steadily increasing, is not necessarily representative of the state’s…

The doctors will be in soon at the Medical and Dental Center of Castle Pines! They are all smiles as they look down into the atrium from the second floor of their new building. Pictured left to right: Dr. Matthew Rolfson, Dr. Stephanie Scheich, Dr. Jeff Scheich, Dr. Jason Ortman, and Dr. Andrew Dunbar. Article…

By Patte Smith; illustration provided by Southeast Light Rail The RidgeGate and Lone Tree area has had a lot of building activity lately with the new Cabela’s opening, the additional Sky Ridge development, the construction of the Charles Schwab campus, and the new Kaiser Permanente complex, to name a few. With more development, transportation issues…

By Steve Baska The weekly newspaper, Castle Rock News-Press, which has been delivered to driveways in Douglas County for decades, has changed its masthead. For papers delivered within the city of Castle Pines, the front page now reads “Castle Pines News-Press.” According to Jerry Healey, owner of Colorado Community Media, which publishes 18 local newspapers…

Information provided by Douglas County Work is underway on a $1.2 million project to replace the concrete slabs on the I-25 bridges at Surrey Ridge Road and Happy Canyon Road in order to extend the life of the pavement and the bridge. In addition, minor bridge work will take place on I-25 at RidgeGate Parkway.…

The Nacho Men rocked the crowd with their music, mixed with improv performances to keep the fans wanting more. Members of the New Life Church were on hand serving up BBQ hot dogs and hamburgers. Article and photos by Julie Montoya The Castle Pines community rocked out at its first-ever free Concert in the Park…

The City of Castle Pines will soon donate a parcel of land to the Douglas County Library District for a new library in Castle Pines. The parcel, which is located at the intersection of Village Square Lane and Village Square Terrace (adjacent to The Bundt Shoppe), will provide a home for the library, office space…

By Amy Shanahan, photo courtesy of Scott Melanson The first day of school was exciting for the students at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) as they entered the front door and were welcomed into the school by the entire staff cheering for them with purple pom-poms. This annual tradition at RHMS is all part of…

By Liz Jurkowski To date this year, there have been more than 1,400 calls to Douglas County’s Department of Human Services about children who may be abused or neglected. It seems shocking to imagine that stuff like that even happens here in our neighborhoods, but the truth is it happens everywhere. However, there is hope…

Don Van Wormer, City Manager City of Castle Pines Information and photo provided by the City of Castle Pines After several months of operating without a city manager, the Castle Pines City Council selected Don Van Wormer to fill the vacancy. In the role as city manager, Van Wormer will be responsible for the general…

Co-owner and winemaker Braden Dodds sources all of his grapes from Cortez and Palisades, Colorado. His expertise and years of experience have led the winery to receive numerous accolades and awards. Article by Amy Shanahan; photos courtesy of Jimmy Dozer Locally-owned winery Ruby Trust Cellars held its Open House and Release Party on August 10…

Castle Rock Mayor Paul Donohue (second from right) congratulates members of the DC Dolphins board and staff on the grand opening of their new facility “The Tank” in Castle Rock. The DC Dolphins run youth sports programs in the area. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett The DC Dolphins, a Castle Rock-based youth sports league…

Aguilar Public Relations has been selected to to provide public relations and communications services for the city. Pictured above left to right: Karen Magner, Timi Aguilar, Tracy Elliott, and Michael Price. (Photo courtesy of Joell Iliff). Information provided by the City of Castle Pines In August, the City of Castle Pines began working with Aguilar…

Pictured left: AJ and Alex LaMotte cuddle with their OutPaws adopted dog Coolio who lives up to his name as a way-cool pooch! Pictured right: Although appearance varies, potcake dogs generally have smooth coats, cocked ears, and long faces. Most have an “island attitude” of being laid back and lovin’ to chill with the family.…

By Elizabeth Wood West Thanks to Rotary Clubs of Douglas County (including Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Parker, and Cherry Creek Valley) and Castle Rock Adventist Health Campus (CRAHC), area residents will have the opportunity to attend the first Family 9Health Fair in Douglas County. The Family 9Health Fair is for both adults and…

Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Cars have been a lifelong passion for Castle Pines resident Bob Rausch. He’s spent his professional career selling cars and recently became the general manager at Mercedes-Benz of Littleton. “The car business really is a people business,” said Rausch. “I love to get to know customers and develop relationships…

Team USA golfer Paula Creamer gears up for match play at the Solheim Cup, which was held last month at the Colorado Golf Club in Parker. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Although sunny skies and supportive crowds weren’t enough for Team USA to recapture the Solheim Cup in August – which they lost to…

The outlet mall was built in 1992 and has become one of Colorado’s top tourist destinations. It continues to expand and add new retailers, benefiting consumers. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of the Outlets at Castle Rock If you haven’t been to the Outlets at Castle Rock in a while, it’s time to take another…