The Connection

Cindy Walsworth, a library staffer at DCS Montessori is honored by students at the school on the occasion of her retirement. Walsworth worked at the school for 14 years. Article and photos by Lisa Crockett When students in the library at DCS Montessori School seemed to spontaneously break into dancing to Pharrell Williams’ popular song…

By Lisa Crockett; photos by Cindy Cranstone A night out with friends or loved ones is always a treasure. If you’re lucky enough to spend it with great food and good views, it’s priceless. Brio Tuscan Grille is just the kind of place to spend a leisurely and enjoyable summer’s evening. “Our patio faces the…

This area of necrotic ring spot in a BrambleRidge yard shows the typical circle pattern of dead grass caused by a fungus that is hard to treat. The BrambleRidge HOA will treat 22 yards in that subdivision this spring and fall. Ring Spot is common in Colorado and has been the subject of many studies…

By Patte Smith Each child is a very special gift to the world. Many children grow up in secure and happy homes while others suffer abuse or neglect. In the hope of helping the children who have endured hardships, the Douglas County Human Services Department is partnering with Arapahoe and Jefferson County in the Collaborative…

The Cinco de Mayo Festival in The Village at Castle Pines was a blast for the hundreds of neighbors who came out to celebrate on a gorgeous spring evening. Hosted by The Social and other local merchants, the party featured something for everyone. Denver’s ever-popular band “The Nacho Men” provided live music and kept the…

By Kathy Fallert It’s that time again … inflate those tires, don the old helmet, and join more than 25,000 Coloradans on the annual Bike to Work Day. Much of the country celebrates Bike to Work Day in May, but due to Colorado’s mountain communities and unpredictable weather, we celebrate Colorado Bike Month in June,…

Fifteen-year-old Castle Pines resident Claire Green was selected by the Colorado Rapids to play as a partner athlete for its Special Olympics Unified Soccer Team this summer. By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Special Olympics Colorado Tapestry Hills resident and Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) sophomore Claire Green was recently selected as part of the…

RCHS drama students pose for the camera during the 49th annual high school theatre conference, December 4 through December 6 at the Colorado Convention Center. By Michael Shapiro, RCHS intern writer From December 4 through December 6, thirty-six Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) drama students attended the 49th annual high school theatre conference (often referred…

By Patte Smith Spring is here and summer is around the corner, so local farmers markets are getting in full swing. Many of the markets are around the Douglas County area, while others are fun to attend in Denver metro neighborhoods. Farmers markets feature produce that is grown locally and often feature food that is…

New member Kathy Pollock enjoyed being one of the models in the fashion show and wearing beautiful clothes from Parker Panache Boutique. “I’m a new resident who recently moved out here knowing absolutely no one. This group of women has been so incredibly warm and welcoming and has made my settling in so much easier…

Fifth graders use a homemade all-natural cleaner they made in class to wash the exterior windows of the school during PRIDE Day at BRE. Article and photos by Elean Gersack It was a busy day at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) on Thursday, April 24. The day was all about PRIDE – perseverance, respect, integrity,…

A dedicated athlete and honors student, Jessica Dillon is remembered as someone who was kind to all. By Lisa Crockett; photos courtesy of the Dillon Family Compassion, humor, and generosity. These words sum up the short life of Castle Pines resident and CSU student Jessica Dillon. An enthusiastic and exuberant young adult, Jessica collapsed and…

HOA2 moms Carrie Butler, Alexandra Wight, Tara Broyd, Lee Ann Hilgendorf, and Michele Laity – along with their kids, celebrate the new play structure they helped to select for HOA2 in Castle Pines. Article and photo by Elean Gersack HOA2 in Castle Pines has a brand-new play structure, thanks in part to some local moms.…

The sidewalks outside of Buffalo Ridge Elementary School were chalked with positive messages and good wishes before school as an act of kindness earlier his year. Article and photo by Lynne Marsala Basche Kindness is fun. Kindness is contagious. Kindness is infiltrating the Castle Pines community this summer. Be a part of the kindness campaign…

BREA hospitality gurus Jill Johnson, Valerie Miller and Michelle Rafter celebrate with many staff members after the staff lounge makeover reveal! Article and photos by Elean Gersack Weekend renovations aren’t just for television. On Monday, May 5, teachers and staff at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) were surprised with delight as they discovered a freshly…

Dylan Hettinger Article and photos by Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Michelle Hettinger Canyon Fitness was proud to participate in Light It Up Blue, a global program designed to raise awareness of the one in sixty-eight children affected by autism. The month of April is designated Autism Awareness Month, and businesses, communities, organizations and historic…

Faith Geiger (above) gets twisted up in a super-sized game of Twister at Timber Trail Elementary’s Move-a-Thon last month, while second grader Sawyer Boeke (below) works his hula muscles. The event raised money for the school and gave students a chance to exercise their minds and their bodies. Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Getting…

The first annual “Daughters, Defense and Dessert” night at RHMS attracted numerous students and their parents. All learned valuable basic self-defense moves and enjoyed time as a community. The school plans to host the event again next year with a separate event geared towards boys and their parents. By Hannah Seely, RHMS intern writer; photos…

The Girls on the Run program at Renaissance Expeditionary School in Castle Rock raised money to send six at-risk kids to summer camp this summer by holding a baked goods and crafts sale, as well as a sponsored lap run. By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Janell Lewis Girls on the Run (GOTR) is a…

By Lisa Crockett Sticky situations were the name of the game at a class on creative uses of duct tape at the Castle Pines Library last month. Designed to be a draw for so-called “tweens” in the area, the library offered the class based on the book “The Kids’ Guide to Duct Tape Projects” by…

By Cindy Kessinger Looking for a way to enjoy the springtime weather and get some exercise while spending time with a significant other? Try taking your date on a tandem bike ride; a bicycle built for two. KC Neel of Castle Rock Bike and Ski in Castle Rock said she and her husband used to…

By Amy Shanahan In need of a babysitter? Want to sell your patio furniture? Know about a fun local event? Looking for a plumber? Had a bear sighting? If you haven’t yet been introduced to the Nextdoor website, you may want to take a look to see what you’ve been missing. Nextdoor is a private…

Information and photos provided by Carla Kenny Peak Potential Chiropractic officially opened its doors on April 28 and held its ribbon cutting with the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce on May 13.. Numerous friends and family members, as well as community members came out to celebrate with Dr. Megan Fowler and her staff. “All of…

On May 10, Valor Christian High School had its groundbreaking ceremony for The Valor Center for Culture and Influence; A multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art center on Valor’s main campus that will house classrooms, music and performance studios, and a main stage theater. (Photos courtesy of Valor.)

By Lisa Crockett The Missoula Children’s Theater (MCT), a Montana arts group aimed at allowing children to participate in the performing arts, will spend a week in residency at Rocky Heights Middle School. The one-week program takes participants through the process of putting on a play, in this case “The Wizard of Oz,” from audition…

Celebrate Summer Solstice at Elk Ridge Park Come celebrate the longest day of the year at the Castle Pines Summer Solstice Fair at Elk Ridge Park on June 21 from 10:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. This fun-filled and educational family event, brought to the community by the Castle Pines Arts and Cultural Foundation, will include…

Seventh grader Gigi Pacheco captured first place for her impromptu speech “During the Storm” at the 2014 Trophy Speech Meet hosted by the Denver Archdiocese. By JulieAnna Reinhardt; photo courtesy of Monica Pacheco It’s all in the way you say it. That’s the winning strategy for Castle Pines resident Gigi Pacheco. Pacheco is a seventh…

Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner Hankering for a small town experience? Motor down to Palmer Lake, a hamlet attracting day trippers for a century. Founded because General William Palmer needed water for his Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, her natural beauty, history and gustatory charms attract thousands on weekends April through November. Developer and…

Information provided by Douglas County The Douglas County Fair & Rodeo would not be as successful as it is today without the vision, dedication, and hard work of its volunteers. Several different volunteer opportunities for youth, adults and seniors are offered during the fair, August 7-10. Volunteers will receive a four-day general admission pass. For…

Denise Kelly of Forest Park and her black lab blue heeler named Moe are excited to be a therapy team. Their first stop will be Swedish Medical Center where Moe will comfort pre- and post-surgery patients. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Denise Kelly Denise Kelly of Forest Park knows firsthand the power of a…

Mother’s Day 2008, Weez Altomari pictured with her two sons, Chris (left) and Greg (right). Greg lost his life to colon cancer in 2009. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of the Altomari Family Most of us have lost a loved one at some point in our lives, be it a relative, a friend, or a…

Bryan Warnecke’s team name is Pink Lightning, a tribute to the nickname his goalie coach gave him referring to his lightning speed and pink goalie pads. In 2013 Bryan and his dad Steve completed the two-day Courage Classic, and this year Bryan has set his sights on a much bigger goal. By Amy Shanahan with…

By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Carla Kenny Spring cleaning and good reading go hand in hand in Castle Pines. For the fourth year in a row, residents convened at a “book swap” event sponsored by the Castle Pines North Master Association. Ten volunteers spent nearly four hours sorting and arranging more than 1,500 books…

Information provided by Douglas County Libraries Through the Partnership of Douglas County Governments (PDCG), nine partner organizations have worked together to create and launch a new countywide website for volunteers. This innovative community resource offers one-stop shopping for volunteers wanting to share their time and skills in the communities of Douglas County. “The online portal…

This May, half of AA’s graduating eighth grade class finished its entire elementary education at the school. By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of Terri Ary On May 22, a significant milestone was achieved at American Academy (AA). On that day, 34 of the 70 graduating eighth graders had the unique distinction of being the…

By Lynne Marsala Basche Choose the event, lace up those sneakers, and get moving in the 2nd annual Castle Rock Pick It! Run It! Rock It! Half Marathon. On June 28, 600 runners are expected to dash their way through Castle Rock’s charming streets, scenic open spaces, and along the shady East Plum Creek Trail.…

By Patte Smith A few Independence Day celebrations are close by in the Douglas County area and there are some fun ones planned in the Denver Metro area as well. A Fourth of July Parade, 5K race, and celebration will be held on July 4 in Highlands Ranch at Town Center North and South east…

FitCamp participants (left to right): Liah Lopez, Tracey Hopkins, Christy Lott, Linda Nystrom, and Abeer Miller. Castle Pines resident Marcio Stewart started a new program in January that is booming. He was looking for people to join him in a local fitness group that would exercise together at Elk Ridge Park since there is no…

Information provided by the DCSO The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) continues to receive reports of a fraudulent scheme where someone is representing themselves to be a DCSO deputy. The suspect calls on the phone and tells the citizen they have to immediately pay a fee in order to prevent their driver’s license from being…

The Rock Canyon boys varsity ice hockey team celebrated its second year making the state championship game. This year the team played hard but lost a tough battle against Chaparral High School 4-1, taking second in state. By Elean Gersack; information and photo provided by the Ansay Family   The Rock Canyon High School boys…

New life comes to Daniels Park each spring. In addition to the dozen or so new baby bison born this year, operations supervisor and Daniels Park caretaker Matt Brown is a new dad too. He is looking forward to teaching his four-month-old son Hunter all about life in Daniels Park. Article and photo by Lisa…

Article and map by Patte Smith In April, the Lone Tree City Council (City)approved an amendment to the RidgeGate Retail District Sub-Area Plan that affects the development of Lincoln Commons. The new plan will now encompass more commercial and mixed-use development instead of predominately retail. “This new plan was amended in response to an updated…

On May 15 the Interact Club presented a check in the amount of $2,500 to Castle Pines Village resident Dr. Brian Van Vechten (left) who represented the “Be the Change” organization. Interact Club Vice President Olivia Voss said, “‘Be The Change’ is a great organization. It helps build schools in third-world countries, and education is…

By Terri Wiebold; photos courtesy of Jensen Sutta Event venues specialize in creating memorable affairs, so it was only fitting that Cielo at Castle Pines’ five-year anniversary be the party to top all parties. Reminiscent of its over-the-top grand opening celebration in 2009, Cielo provided an array of creative entertainment for guests, including gaming tables…

Submitted by Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce; Press release provided by Leading Edge Physical Therapy “A body in motion stays in motion.” This motto applies to our patients and our business. “Since we opened in 2010, we are constantly looking for new, innovative ways to treat our patients and enhance our practice,” said co-owners Sara…

Article and photos by Liz Jurkowski I had always known that the Sand Creek Massacre was a devastating part of Colorado’s history, but did not fully understand the events that occurred on November 29, 1864 until I took the time to visit, learn and reflect at the Sand Creek National Historic Site in Kiowa County.…

By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of Cari Ogg Dads and daughters enjoyed a special night out together at the annual Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) “Pops and Lollies” daddy-daughter dance on Friday, April 11. The event was sponsored by the before-and-after school enrichment program (B.A.S.E.).

Article by Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of MoZaic Sometimes a good meal is worth a little time in the car. Mother’s Day is this month, and a leisurely drive to the town of Palmer Lake, about 30 minutes to our south, is the perfect place to take your mom to celebrate. MoZaic restaurant, located in…

The spring musical production of The Music Man at RHMS featured incredible acting and musical talent by the numerous students who participated. Pictured (left to right) are several of the show’s stars, Rachael Merrill, Landon Hogue, Elysa Veta, Cooper Bridges, and Michaela Fullerton. By Amy Shanahan, photos courtesy of RHMS student Zoe Wilson and Susie…

Information provided by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office In response to an increase in population of individuals age 60 and older, the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office will host the second annual Fraud Prevention and Safety Summit on May 15 at the Parker Arts, Culture and Events Center (PACE), located at 20000 Pikes Peak…

The Castle View High School gala fundraiser in support of the music program was a fun-filled evening for all who attended. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Jeffie Kopp The Castle View High School (CVHS) band booster club was thrilled with the results of its gala fundraiser, held on April 11 at the beautiful Spruce…

By Amy Shanahan Village Wines has been a fixture in The Village at Castle Pines for the past seven years, and has gained a reputation as an excellent source for hard-to-find wines and personal, friendly service from the father and son owners, Brad and Braden Dodds. As of May 1, Village Wines is rebranding itself…

As the school year winds down at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE), the learning certainly has not. With an emphasis on doing, teachers at BRE have engaged students to take an active part in their education. Early in the school year, Principal Sarah McAfee was enthusiastic about raising the bar for academic excellence and rigor.…

By Elizabeth Wood West The public is invited to join American Legion Post 1187 at its two Memorial Day ceremonies on Monday, May 26. The first ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. at Cedar Hill Cemetery (just west of I-25 on Wolfensberger Road) in Castle Rock. The second ceremony will be held at 11…

Vehicle Vault is a premier auto gallery and elite collector community for car enthusiasts. It is located east of I-25 on Lincoln Avenue in Parker and is expected to open its doors in the next few months. By Joe Gschwendtner; photo and graphic rendering courtesy of Vehicle Vault Welcome to Vehicle Vault, the premier auto…

The students provided their own equipment and worked hard to raise money to support the teams. Eighth grade student Joe Bryson is pictured here during practice. By Amy Shanahan; photos courtesy of Melanie Lee and RHMS student Daniel Deschane Thanks to a few enterprising eighth grade boys from Castle Pines, Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) is likely the…

Jumping for Joy: Elliot (left) and Dominic Malsam are helping their parents, Molly and Randy, run a fundraiser at Jump Street Trampoline Park in Greenwood Village in June. Money will benefit orphanages in Uganda. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Molly Malsam Castle Pines residents Molly and Randy Malsam are passionate about…

After an undefeated season last summer, the Castle Pines Storm swim team has been promoted to a new division. Swimmers (left to right) Cameron Karaba, Lauren Karaba, Kira Moar, and Jake Moar and their teammates are looking forward to the new challenges the new division will bring. By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Gwen Karaba…

By Elizabeth Wood West; renderings provided by CU Denver Beginning in mid-August, the University of Colorado Denver and the University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Denver/Anschutz) will be offering courses for the 2014 fall semester at The Wildlife Experience – the wildlife art/natural history museum and cultural center located one mile east of I-25…

Information provided by Douglas County Douglas County will open the Castle Rock slash and mulch site for the 2014 season from May 3 through October 25. Operating hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each Saturday. Additionally, Douglas County will make accommodations to allow mulch material to be picked up anytime during the season…

Lindsey and Jeremy Friedman have an extensive history in the garden industry and have long been active in the promotion of urban gardening. They enjoy spending time outdoors with their two young boys. “Like many Colorado residents, we get excited when spring comes so that we can plant our own pots and garden!” By Amy…

Fifth grade girls Emma and Lucy light up the stage during their performance of the song “Vogue” during the fifth grade show. By Jack Basche, BRE Ridgeline staff reporter; photos courtesy of Cari Ogg For the past 14 years, Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) School has put together an outstanding fifth grade show, and they did…

George Waggett’s participation in a running group through Achilles International has greatly increased his confidence. Aside from improving his running endurance, Waggett has enjoyed the support of other athletes with various disabilities. Waggett competed in the Cherry Creek Sneak 5K alongside Deb Conley, the president and founder of Lending Sight. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy…

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…