The Connection

These 19 players chosen for this year’s team represent the best of the best of talent spread across each age group and they make the games exciting to watch. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Visions Photography With eight wins and only one loss, the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) varsity girls soccer team is…

Alyssa Montoya outside Valor Christian High School with her Kalos Film Festival award for the Best Overall Film of 2014. Article and photo by JulieAnna Reinhardt The art of filmmaking takes talent and creativity, and Castle Pines resident Alyssa Montoya has made an impact on those around her by bringing to light the subject of…

  Left: A hay ride to see the sights is fun at any age! Right: Local 4-H and FFA students showing their prize sheep. Information and photo provided by CALF Join the fun at historic Lowell Ranch and learn about rural life at the Colorado Agriculture Leadership Foundation’s (CALF) Farm & Ranch Day on May…

Hayden Baker and McKenna Monkelien perform their rendition of “Rapunzel.” Article and photo by Lisa Crockett First graders at Timber Trail Elementary enjoyed a moment in the spotlight as they re-interpreted classic fairy tales. After crafting scripts, costumes, and scenery, the students performed for kindergartners at the school. “This project was all about the kids learning…

By Elizabeth Wood West Colorado voters have two important regularly scheduled elections to participate in for 2014 – the Primary Election in June and the General Election in November. Primary Election – Considered by many to be one of the most important phases of an election, a Primary Election is essentially a nominating election when…

Valor Christian High School teacher and professional musician Marty Magehee at home in his Valor studio. Article and photo by JulieAnna Reinhardt With five million music albums sold worldwide, twenty-seven number one singles, more than four thousand concert performances, and a Grammy nomination, you have a star. But Castle Pines resident Marty Magehee isn’t just…

Just outside of the senior hall was the New Orleans-themed “Cafe Du Monde,” which provided coffee and refreshments to keep everyone going throughout the night. Article and photos by Andrew Bohren, RCHS intern writer Almost any given night of the year, the inside of Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) looks like any other high school.…

Coaches Andy Russell (left) and Deanna Driver are bringing CrossFit to the Safeway Shopping Center in Castle Pines. On May 5, CrossFit Castle Pines will celebrate its grand opening. The new gym, or “box” as it is called in CrossFit lingo, is located in the Safeway shopping center. The gym has already been open for…

Tammy Lopez Submitted by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce; Press release provided by The Tammy Lopez Agency As a business leader and involved citizen in the Castle Pines area, Allstate Tammy Lopez Agency LLC has been designated an Allstate Premier Agency for 2014. The Allstate Premier Agency designation is bestowed on less than 48…

Rockfest Junior is on Sunday, June 22 at 3 p.m. in Civic Green Park, Highlands Ranch. Get ready to rock and read with Douglas County Libraries and Project: LIVE! Celebrate music and literacy as we jam out to music from the Grammy-winning Okee Dokee Brothers, Vered, and the School of Rock House Band. Enjoy crafts,…

By Elizabeth Wood West Developmental Pathways (DP) is inviting the public to attend its 50th Anniversary Golden Gala and 11th Annual Pathways Client Achievement Awards. The landmark event will be held on Saturday, April 26, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, 1881 Curtis Street in downtown Denver. DP is a non-profit agency…

With matching robes and lollipops as sweet as their smiles, the Splish Splash girls get ready to dance at the Buffalo Ridge Elementary School Variety Show. (Photo by Elean Gersack). By Hanna R., BRE Ridgeline Staff Reporter On Thursday, February 27, the Buffalo Ridge Elementary School’s (BRE) 2014 Variety Show took place in the morning…

By Kathy Fallert It’s that time again; tax season! For the twelfth consecutive year, a group of Colorado nonprofit organizations makes it as easy as ever to be eligible for voluntary checkoff donations from taxpayers through Checkoff Colorado. More than $1.4 million was raised in 2013 with an average donation of only $11. This year…

The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce 2014 award recipients (left to right): Sheriff Dave Weaver – Citizen of the Year, Terri Wiebold – Business Person of the Year, and Wendell Cummings – Ambassador of the Year. By Elizabeth Wood West; photos by Amy Shanahan The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce (CPCC) staff and members of the business…

Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Movies, television shows, music and audiobooks are now available to the community free of charge and require nothing more than a current library card. Library patrons now have access to streaming from “hoopla,” a vast catalog of media materials that are easy to access and are available for use…

By Steve Baska Since the new Colorado law legalizing recreational marijuana use went into effect January 1, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has kept on eye on marijuana usage in Castle Pines to ensure compliance. But many people may still wonder what exactly is allowed under the city and state laws that apply, so Douglas…

DCS Montessori kindergartner Alex Chapman (in wheelchair) didn’t let a broken leg keep him from participating in P.E. class with his friends. By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of DCS Montessori DCS Montessori kindergartner Alex Chapman likes to move. During the 10 minutes of P.E. class that students get to participate in the activity of their…

Students at TTE and BRE celebrate the end of their Winter Olympics. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Wight). Article and photos by Elean Gersack; courtesy photo On February 27, some incredible students at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) and Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) schools gathered for a very special Winter Olympics celebration. Jane Lenz and Niké Oleson…

By Elean Gersack Plans for the third annual Castle Pines Chamber Golf Tournament are in full swing. The joint fundraiser to support the chamber and this year’s charitable organization, The Douglas/Elbert Task Force, is planned for Monday, July 14 at The Golf Club at Pradera in Parker. A gorgeous venue for a great cause! Sponsorship…

Abby Kochevar of Forest Park took the podium for earning first place in the state championship for 100 yard backstroke on February 15 at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Adams County. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of the Kochevar Family Although Abby Kochevar of Forest Park had the fastest time at the state swimming…

Students on the Timber Team, Timber Trail Elementary’s student council, are collecting clothing, shoes, and other household items in a bin like this one. During the month of April, they are competing with other local organizations to see who can collect the most donations. Donations may be dropped off at any time. Article and photo…

Chip Hudson’s youngest son is a big fan of his father’s app for iPad and iPhones which allows tennis players to track their statistics. Whether a player wants to analyze their stats by game, set, or match, the information is accurate and immediately at their fingertips. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Chip Hudson Castle…

Castle Pines Eye Care Optical Manager Michelle Chalupa (left) stands with Cathy Rapp (right) and Anne Buel (middle) in front of Rapp’s bike series displayed in the hallways at Castle Pines Eye Care. Article and photos by Elean Gersack Nearly six months after getting settled into their new space on Max Drive in Castle Pines, Dr.…

Students from Mrs. Rumminger’s second grade class at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School got ‘drenched’ with weather knowledge during the month of March. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Blizzards, tornados, hurricanes, and other major weather events were all abuzz in second grade classrooms at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) during the month of March. With…

Isaac L. (center) is introduced to the RCHS student body, welcoming him with a rendition of their “I Believe” chant, saying “I believe in Isaac’s wish.” Article and photo by Andrew Bohren, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photo Ever since the 2009-2010 school year, there is one week in February when one school unites to grant…

Before, during, and after: An application to reduce commercial square footage (purple) and increase the number of single-family homes (beige) in Castle Pines Town Center resulted in further changes at the request of the City Council. The final plan, which was approved by the City Council in March, included moving a proposed school (blue) from…

By Joe Gschwendtner; photo provided by Will McCollum Smart phone applications usher in new ways of living for many of us. If you have not yet heard of UBER (oo-ber), a ridesharing technology platform, get ready. It’s coming soon to our Castle Pines neighborhood. Started in San Francisco in 2001, UBER was launched by Travis…

By Anthonette Klinkerman As it sometimes goes for reporters, a story touches you more than others and you wonder what happened in the years since. Imagine my delight when asked to cover this follow-up story about Tammy Krause, founder of Bags Of Fun. Time flies when you are providing backpacks full of fun diversions for…

Coming to Douglas County April 26, 27 & May 2 By Elean Gersack The 9Health Fair is celebrating 35 years of health screenings this year, and in late April and early May three Douglas County venues will play host – Castle Rock Recreation Center, Eastridge Recreation Center, and Parker Adventist Hospital (note: Sky Ridge Medical…

Chabad Jewish Center Meets at 9950 Lone Tree Parkway; www.denverjewishcenter.com. *Passover: April 14 until April 22; for information about events, visit the website listed above. Castle Oaks Covenant Church Meets at 826 Park Street, Castle Rock, www.castleoaks.org. *Easter Sunday services: April 20 at 8:45 a.m. &10:30 a.m. Castle Pines Community Church Meets at 7280 Lagae…

Jenna Patterson danced the night away with her dad Bill. “The best part of the night was spending time with my dad”, said Jenna. “I love him!” By Amy Shanahan; photos courtesy of The Country Club at Castle Pines Butterflies and special memories were the theme at the 18th annual Father Daughter Dance at The Country…

Orthodontist Brandon Linn and wife Lisa are happy to be raising their three children, five-year-old Cooper (left), eight-year-old Harper (middle) and ten-year-old Kennedy, in Castle Pines. Linn has been in practice in Castle Pines since 2004 and was recently honored by 5280 Magazine as one of their “Top Dentists.” (Photo courtesy of the Linn Family).…

Castle Pines resident Sheri Stouffer (left) was recently recognized for her incredible talents in window covering design. Grace McNamara (right), publisher and owner of Window Fashion Vision magazine presented Stouffer with a first place design award at a prestigious design competition in Las Vegas. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Sheri Stouffer Local window covering…

By Elizabeth Wood West Last fall, Douglas County and the Partnership of Douglas County Governments (PDCG) launched a survey and listening tours as part of its Douglas County Senior Initiative (DCSI). The purpose was to collect input from senior citizens and service providers in Douglas County to determine the needs of the elderly, if and/or…

By Elean Gersack The Dumb Friends League is touting this year’s Furry Scurry as “locally grown.” That’s because it has grown from local support to be the single largest dog walk across the country. Nearly 12,000 people and 5,000 four-legged friends take part in this annual tradition to support homeless animals. This year’s event is…

By Elean Gersack; logo courtesy of Steve Ihme and Drew Irwin Last August, we introduced our readers to the Ihme family and told the story of their annual golf tournament benefiting Children’s Hospital Colorado. Castle Pines resident Steve Ihme lost his brother Rich to leukemia in 1985, and every year since 2003 he and his…

Article by Elean Gersack;  photo courtesy of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has teamed up with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to help rid homes of unused or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. The agencies will be on hand on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2…

Employees from Big O Tires manned phone banks and distributed “Little O” dolls to patients at Children’s Hospital as part of the Alice 105.9 radiothon “36 Hours for Kids,” which raised more than $1.8 million for the hospital. By Lisa Crockett; photos courtesy of Big O Tires, Castle Pines In keeping with a long-standing tradition,…

Information provided by Canyon Fitness April 30 from 5 p.m to 8 p.m., join in the celebration with live music, silent auction, zumba party, jagged edge crossfit challenge workout, and Taste of Castle Rock & Castle Pines. Open to Everyone! We are lighting up the building blue at 6:30 p.m – this event occurs around…

Brooks Kaufman, Lands and Rights of Way Director for IREA, spoke at a city council meeting in February. The council approved the construction of a new IREA substation in The Canyons development, adjacent to Happy Canyon Estates.  Article and photo by Lisa Crockett In February, the Castle Pines City Council gave the green light for…

Rocky Heights Middle School student Zach Merriman, whose family lives in Surrey Ridge, gladly had his head shaved in honor of his late “ninja” friend Justin Miller. Merriman smiled as he saw the transformation and his hair disappear. Always having a good attitude, Merriman acknowledges that this was a great experience. By Patte Smith; photos…

RCHS volunteers help students create art projects at Escuela Verde in Uvita, Costa Rica. By Michael Shapiro, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Stephanie Varga In Costa Rica, the median income per household is just above $7,000.  In Castle Pines, the median income per household is roughly $155,000.  While Costa Rica means “rich coast” when…

By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Mark Wilkins of Castle Pines Images More than 130 students participated in the “Puttin’ on the Glitz” fashion show, a favorite Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) tradition, on February 23 at the DTC Marriott. For the students who modeled, it was a fun opportunity to “rock the runway”, earn…

Sahil Malik (left) and Carter Spielmann (right) took first place at Timber Trail Elementary’s “Invention Convention” for their magnetized shoelaces.  The invention solves the problem of shoes that won’t stay tied. Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Have you ever been bothered by cold ears while skiing? Do bath towels on the floor drive you…

Castle Pines residents (left to right) Nora Gentile, Timothy Toole and Alexis Wilderman performed in the play “Life is a Dream” at Regis Jesuit High School and received outstanding reviews. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Patti Toole Over the weekend of March 14 to 16, Regis Jesuit High School (RJ) was proud to present…

This elegantly-appointed and spacious private executive lounge is available for relaxing before and after flights and is stocked with beverages and snacks. It is part of the 5,100 square-foot facility which includes Jet Linx corporate offices, located at Centennial Airport, 8001 S. Interport Blvd, Suite 140 in Englewood. By Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of Jet…

Information provided by the Lone Tree Arts Center Guild and the Wild Animal Sanctuary The Lone Tree Arts Center Guild (LTACG) is hosting a fascinating and educational evening with Pat Craig, founder of The Wild Animal Sanctuary (TWAS) in Keenesburg, Colorado. The event is April 21 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Lone Tree…

Charlene and Greg Johnson (pictured center) were excited to feature Moors and McCumber at their house concert on March 14. The concert attracted 65 people and the band didn’t disappoint! The musical duo performed well into the evening and utilized numerous instruments along with their unique harmonies to create a memorable night. By Amy Shanahan;…

By Steve Baska A representative of a new communications firm hired by the Castle Pines City Council discussed goals with the council on March 11. Council hired Slate Communications out of Ft. Collins on February 25. Depending upon the amount of work to be done, up to $6,400 per month was allocated, for an annual…

By RHMS eighth grade student Maria Pangalos Life is a journey, not a destination.  Why not enjoy the ride and make the best of it?  Get ready to turn your can’ts into cans and your dreams into plans because Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) has just the thing for you this summer.   During the…

Dr. Brad Duhon is the director of neurosurgery and chief of surgery at Castle Rock Adventist Hospital. He and his family moved to Happy Canyon in 2013 and have been adjusting to their new rural surroundings with humor and gratitude. By Elizabeth Wood West; photo courtesy of Deborah Duhon Duhon said, “When we were moving,…

Colorado’s own “Firefall” took time back stage for a photo op with Castle Pines Connection staffer and event volunteer Sharon Kollmar (in yellow). Proceeds from the concert benefitted the Douglas/Elbert Task Force. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Peter Cranstone Colorado’s own platinum recording artist “Firefall” broke out some old favorites for the 30th anniversary…

NHTV students Ally Pfeiffer and Sydney Dicarlo (left)filmed their randomly-selected student Bryce Schmuhl and learned many interesting facts about his life. Lauren Kelly conducted the interview while Lyla Padden kept track of facts and noted them on the storyboard. The project was very labor intensive, but the end result was fascinating and enlightening. Submitted by…

These ten students from RHMS competed against the top math students in the region. Luke Zhang, Carissa Tan, Amber Liu and Sonia Chu took second place as a team and will move on to the state competition. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Christopher Gowing Rocky Heights Middle School was proud to take second place…

By Steve Baska The Douglas County Board of Commissioners recently replaced two resolutions that banned open carry of guns in its county facilities, parks, trails, and open spaces with a new resolution that allows open carry of guns in those places – with the exception being the Robert A. Christensen Justice Center where the courts…

Team member and Castle Pines Village resident Dane Westen felt pressure to win the Silver Sticks Hockey Tournament, knowing his team would be the first ever from the state of Colorado. “When we won the tournament in Canada we all got to throw our gloves, sticks and helmets on the ice and skate around and…

Katelyn and Andrew Stevens enjoy the scenery, including this Eiffel Tower, which was festively lit Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Ooh, la la! Timber Trail Elementary girls were treated to a night on the town with their dads last month at the school’s annual Daddy-Daughter Dance. This year’s theme – “A Night in Paris”…

The Fusion Lab in the Parker Library, which opened last month, offers a wide array of sophisticated software and equipment for music, audio and video production, and media preservation. The lab, called a “maker space” is the first of its kind in the Douglas County Library system. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett What used…

Castle Pines resident Sara McCaslin at the “Go Red for Women” event at the Park Meadows Retail Resort last month. McCaslin, who is an American Heart Association volunteer and heart attack survivor speaks to groups to raise awareness about heart disease. Outfitted in a new red geometric-pattern dress (compliments of Macy’s), she shared her story…

American Academy Ghana Club board members visited with the Rotary Club of Castle Pines on January 16. The Rotary granted the club $500 to help grow the program. Back Row: Howard Rosch, president Rotary Club of Castle Pines; Ben Wolfe, teacher/Ghana Club sponsor at American Academy; and Ron West, president Rotary Club of Castle Pines…

Article and photo by Amy Shanahan The beautiful new Canyon Fitness health club held its official grand opening on Wednesday, January 29. The event was attended by more than four hundred enthusiastic gym and community members. The “John Saunders Band” kept things rockin’ downstairs, while attendees enjoyed wine and delicious food from The Social. Upstairs…

Rock Canyon High School students pose for the camera following the conclusion of the competition on Friday, February 7. By Michael Shapiro, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Jana Robinette On Friday, February 7, roughly 1,000 high school students from across Douglas County descended on the Denver First Church for the Future Business Leaders of…

Letter sent by the Douglas County School District on February 13 Dear Douglas County Parents, As you know, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. You may also know, over the past few weeks, we have lost three Douglas County School District students and one former student to suicide. First, I…

By Amy Shanahan Castle Pines Village resident Stacy Gaines is at it again! For the fifth year in a row, Gaines and her friends and fellow church members are putting together Easter baskets for homeless children throughout the metro Denver area. The goal this year is five hundred baskets that will be delivered to the…

BRE first graders Jayse and Braden film their video about the Washington Monument. Article and photo by Elean Gersack First graders at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) recently studied United States symbols. As part of the social studies standards for identifying and explaining the meaning of national symbols, the first grade team worked together to…