The Connection

  The lip-dub video ended with all 1,400 students and 110 staff members from RHMS in front of the school dancing and lip-syncing. Tech teacher Tim Ryckman filmed the final shot from atop a tall ladder, while Tech teacher Scott Melanson encouraged the kids to dance and go crazy for the camera. Article and photo…

Rocky Heights Middle School held a “Dine and Dash” fundraiser at Dazbog in late May and invited all incoming sixth grade students to stop by for treats and to purchase spirit wear. Owner Lisa Newman spent much of the day behind the counter serving the students and their parents. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan…

Daniel Kane is the new general manager for The Ridge at Castle Pines North. Article by Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of Daniel Kane Daniel Kane returns to Colorado and The Ridge at Castle Pines North (The Ridge) as general manager. Kane, who was hired by Troon Golf in 2000 and had a stint as head…

Regina Hutchinson, a local executive coach and consultant, recently helped launch the Half the Sky Leadership Program for Women in PA.     By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Regina Hutchinson Regina Hutchinson and her family moved to Castle Pines eleven years ago, but you can still detect her Boston upbringing when she speaks. She was…

“I have a vested interest in this community,” said Chuck Lowen, a committee member who is manager of the Village Square shopping area in Castle Pines. “I want to make things better for the merchants that work here as well as the people who live here.” Article and photo by Lisa Crockett A group of…

Left to right: Cardiologists BAN Shao and HUANG Qiong; Rotary Club of Castle Pines President Elaine Love; general surgeon WU Chunbo, and cardiovascular surgeon ZHANG Xiangli . The Team Leader, Susan Maguire, a retired clinical pharmacist and member of the Rotary Club of Shanghi, is not shown. Huang and Zhang are from Henan Province and…

RCHS athletes celebrate signing athletic scholarships for college. Pictured left to right: Andrew Romano (golf), Trent Riddle (track), Joshua Peterson (basketball), and Megan Cooney (cross country). Congrats grads! By Elizabeth Wood West; photo provided by Kathleen Kennedy of RCHS Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) is celebrating having four more athletes sign with colleges for athletic…

View looking north at the southbound I-25 off-ramp from Ridgegate Parkway Information provided by Kristen Knoll, City of Lone Tree Expect construction delays and closures on westbound RidgeGate Parkway and the southbound I-25 off-ramp from RidgeGate Pkwy to Cabela Drive through the beginning of July. Modifications to the center median and the addition of new…

Tessa Johnson with her first place artwork titled, “A Broken Society.” (Photo courtesy of Todd Johnson). By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos The Colorado Sixth Congressional District High School Art Competition and Exhibit, “An Artistic Discovery” took place April 27 at Congressman Mike Coffman’s office in Aurora. The competition, which takes place every spring, is sponsored…

Council voted to amend agreements so that final design and other services can be completed relative to the extension of North Meadows Drive from U.S. Highway 85 to Interstate 25. Information provided by Kristin Accola, Town of Castle Rock Progress toward securing Castle Rock’s long-term water future was made Tuesday, when Castle Rock Town Council…

Timber Trail Elementary fourth grader teacher Tony Greene (center) dances with the entire fifth grade class at the school’s annual variety show. The dance exposed students to a hip-hop style called dubstep. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Fifth graders at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) performed a dance last month that took them nearly an…

All the RCHS students who attended the FBLA conference in Vail, pictured above, placed in the top five percent. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Janna Robinett If you happened to be in Vail the weekend of April 13 and 14, you would have seen more than 2,000 high school students from all over Colorado…

Article by Kathy Dunker While other states celebrate National Bike Month during the month of May, Coloradans are getting in gear to start their celebration during the month of June. With the recent May snowstorms, it’s clearly a necessary wait! Registration is now open for Bike to Work Day, which will be on Wednesday, June…

Story and photo by Lisa Crockett Summer is here. Even if it’s been years since you have seen the inside of a classroom, the longer days and warmer temperatures lend themselves to moments of relaxation that can be hard to find when the weather dictates indoor activity. It’s the season of the backyard barbecue, with…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines “News & Notes” Amendment 64 to the Colorado Constitution established an October 1 deadline for local governments to regulate or prohibit the commercial cultivation and sale of marijuana. The retail sale and cultivation regulations of Amendment 64 are enacted in part through zoning and land use restrictions.…

Douglas County Libraries presents “May the Fourth Be with You,” a celebration of all things Star Wars, Saturday, May 4, at the Douglas County Events Center, located at 500 Fairgrounds Drive in Castle Rock. The day begins at 10 a.m. with a demonstration by pop-up artist Matthew Reinhart. Reinhart’s pop-up books include “Mommy?,” co-authored by…

Information provided by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Bring your iPad on Thursday, May 23 and join members of the business community from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Castle Pines Chamber office for a complimentary, hands-on workshop. Weldon Dodd, owner of Rewind Technology (Apple authorized training center) will be conducting an introductory…

The production of Annie at Rocky Heights Middle School brought down the house!  The cast and crew was made up of more than 100 students from sixth through eighth grade. By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of eighth grade RHMS student Jason Lewis The production of “Annie” at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) set a new…

Information provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Law enforcement is beginning to see some new approaches to the old sweepstakes/lottery frauds, and Castle Pines residents should be aware of these techniques. The typical sweepstakes/lottery fraud involved a telephone call or regular mail from the criminal telling the victim that they have won a large…

On any given morning, MiYO Cafe in The Village at Castle Pines is crowded with neighbors and friends enjoying coffee, platters of eggs, bacon and pancakes, homemade burritos, yummy cinnamon rolls, or any of the other wonderful breakfast and lunch dishes that MiYO is known for. MiYO (Make it Your Own) was opened in 2009…

Mad scientists team up with twin Cliffords to help kick off the Buffalo Ridge Elementary School Spring Book Fair on Monday, April 15. This annual event is always a great way for students to stock up on summer reads. Photo by Elean Gersack

By Elizabeth Wood West The city and county of Denver, in cooperation with the Denver United Veterans Council and the Veterans Memorial Day Tribute Committee, invites the public to attend Memorial Day ceremonies on Saturday, May 25, at Lincoln Park, in front of the Colorado Veterans Memorial in Denver. Events will start with a wreath…

Pictured above: Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) baseball players joined together for a moment in a huddle before playing on Coors Field April 13. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Mike Heflebower Kade Castleberry of Hidden Pointe, the starting pitcher of the game, said, “Playing at Coors Field was a great experience for me as…

Local author book signing (Information and photos provided by Andrea Randazzo)

Mentor and instructor Bob Rebholz leads an enthusiastic group of young musicians at Rock Canyon High School. The group is part of the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts, a unique non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth to creatively express themselves through the language of jazz. Article and photo by Heidi Lewellyn Young musicians ages…

Wellspring Community participants stand next to the industrial 20-quart mixer in their new kitchen, located at 826 Park Street in Castle Rock. The new mixer (and the new facility) allow them to make eight times the batter in one batch. By Elizabeth Wood West; photo by Terri Wiebold Wellspring Community (Wellspring) recently moved into a…

  Rob Bohacs (left) and Mac Miller (right) are good friends and neighbors in Castle Pines Village who took a crazy Fourth of July whim and turned it into a successful business. Their products, ManMarg and MissMarg are ready-made margaritas which feature top-shelf Añejo tequila that they import from Mexico. Both products recently won awards…

Left: Castle Pines resident Sean McMullen with three children in the UK in 2011. Right: Sean McMullen, suffering paralysis after a possible spinal cord stroke, was given a “hall pass” from Craig Hospital to return home for his daughter’s sixth birthday. Article by Kathy Dunker; photos courtesy of the McMullen Family The McMullen family, residents…

The “Super Hero Origin” films that were created by the drama and technology classes at RHMS, involved the use of the green screen in order to create many of the special effects and illusions. NHTV students Matt McCollam and Logan Bakken are pictured working on their video in the tech lab in front of the…

Article and photo by Kathy Dunker Texas-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas recently opened its doors at a new location in Aspen Grove, off of Santa Fe. Alamo Drafthouse provides a unique combination of theatre and restaurant, showing first-run and independent films, all with a fairly extensive menu available to order from, throughout the experience. Menu items…

Information provided by Park Meadows Mall Begin your gift search for the perfect Mother’s Day gift where mom already shops. With stores like Soft Surroundings, LUSH, Hot Mama, Athleta, Soma Intimates, Vera Bradley, Pandora, bareMinerals, Swarovski, Brighton Collectibles and Papyrus, you’ll find something perfect that you know she will love at Park Meadow’s Mall. Need…

Town of Castle Rock’s Trolley, which has charming historic details – wooden benches, brass railings, removable windows for open-air riding and much more. The trolley is also available for special occasion rentals at www.crgov.com. By Elizabeth Wood West; photos courtesy of the Town of Castle Rock and Castle Rock Museum The Town of Castle Rock…

DCSM students enjoyed doing the yoga pose low warrior along with several other forms of training last month when they journeyed out of the classroom for some education in exercise. By Kathy Dunker; photos courtesy of Studio Fit On Wednesday, April 10, DCS Montessori (DCSM) middle school students ventured out for their sixth week of…

A favorite t-shirt collection was made into a custom quilt by Tami DiPasquale. By Elizabeth Wood West; photos courtesy of Brian Stopps At the young age of seven, Happy Canyon resident Tami DiPasquale took her first steps toward becoming a renowned master quilter by learning how to sew in a 4-H program. “It made my…

Pictured above, left to right: District Representative Jorge Delgado, Congressman Cory Gardner, and friend Charcie Russell celebrate the opening of the new Castle Pines district office. By Elizabeth Wood West; photo by Tim Gamble U.S. Congressman Cory Gardner recently celebrated the grand opening of his new district office, located at 7505 Village Square Drive, Suite…

By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Michelle Campbell Logo design by Jan Reagan Nearly 700 Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) students arrived at school at midnight on Saturday, April 13 and stayed until 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning, April 14. Instead of studying algebra, biology and English like they normally do at school, the students played…

Information provided by Douglas County Douglas County Commissioner Jill Repella was recently honored by The Economic Development Council of Colorado (EDCC) as Volunteer of the Year, an award recognizing an individual who is not employed in the economic development profession but has a history of involvement in projects that are of significant importance to the…

By Amy Shanahan Castle Pines Jewelers is excited to welcome factory representatives from the Masriera jewelry factory in Barcelona, Spain, for a one-day trunk show and open house. On Friday, May 10 from noon to 6 p.m., the store will showcase this exquisite line of custom-made jewelry. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served, and…

By Lisa Crockett Spring has sprung, and officials at the Colorado Golf Club, as well as golf enthusiasts the world over, are now excitedly looking forward to the Solheim Cup. The biannual event takes place in Parker this August, and players and fans can hardly wait. “Major championships are coming into full swing and competition…

Meghan Ruder (front) and Katie Fornelius, members of Girls on the Run at TTE, are all smiles as they work toward their goal of completing a 5K. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Jennifer Kendall Renee Ziegler’s daughter Emma, who is in fourth grade at Timber Trail Elementary School (TTE), has two brothers but she…

Two hockey-loving brothers, Cai and Cooper, took part in BRE’s Mission: Curiosity. They explored how the flex of a hockey stick affected the accuracy of the puck. Ultimately, Cai selected a new stick based on the results. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Being curious is the spark for imagination and wonder. As the Italian…

Information submitted by Dennis Murray, PGA As the snow keeps flying we’re sitting here pondering when our golf season will get underway at The Ridge. Lord knows we need the moisture, so we’ll just have to practice our patience a while longer. If you are like most golfers, after watching the Masters tournament at Augusta…

White Fence Farm is more than just a restaurant – it’s a destination. Enjoy down-home cooking, shopping for gifts and antiques, and even a few furry friends to round out the experience. By Lisa Crockett; photos courtesy of White Fence Farm Once upon a time, eating out wasn’t the hurried, necessary affair it sometimes is…

Head golf pro George Kahrhoff was honored to receive the award for 2012 PGA Private Merchandiser of the Year in Orlando, Florida earlier this year. “This award is all about the staff and members of The Country Club at Castle Pines,” remarked Kahrhoff. “It’s very little about me.”      Article and photo by Amy Shanahan…

By Julie Montoya People say that traveling abroad as part of a mission’s outreach changes lives for both the traveler and the people they meet on their journey. That couldn’t be more true for four Castle Pines teens who were part of a team of students sent from Valor Christian High School to Albania, to…

First place finishers at Timber Trail Elementary’s robotics competition: (from left) Sam Crockett, Ben Crockett, Sam Isert, and Clay Arnold. Back row: faculty advisor to the Robotics Club at TTE, Mandy Smith. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Timber Trail Elementary finished its inaugural season of robotics last month by hosting a friendly competition between…

Pictured top left: Dr. Leroy Chiao, NASA astronaut, recently visited a sixth grade American Academy class to tell students what it takes to be an astronaut. (Left to right), AA sixth grade science teacher Ben Wolfe, Dr. Leroy Chiao, and AA Middle School Director Amanda Lane-Cline. Information and photo provided by American Academy American Academy…

By Lisa Crockett; courtesy photos Several teams of students from Rock Canyon High School, Rocky Heights Middle School, Buffalo Ridge Elementary and Timber Trail Elementary competed in a tournament last month designed to test their skills in subjects ranging from engineering to the fine arts. The tournament was part of a worldwide organization called “Destination…

By Joe Gschwendtner Responsible Americans are quite vocal about their frustrations with government dysfunction and unaccountability at all levels. Despite this, a scant few participate in government at its root levels in community associations. Too many talented people remain unengaged, regardless of a desperate need for them. Homeowner associations are brought to you by your…

By Amy Shanahan, photo courtesy of Ben Wolfe Castle Pines Village (CPV) has a new summer tennis program for its residents, and is fortunate to have a new tennis pro running the program. Ben Wolfe is a young and enthusiastic teacher and coach who has a winning attitude about everything he does. Wolfe is a…

Pictured from left to right: Grace D., Matthew T., Erica P., Juliette L., Libby O., Sydney J., Avarie P., Laurie Jacobs (Team Leader), Patricia Dies (Castle Rock Library), and Janet Nelson (Castle Rock Library). By Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of Laurie Jacobs The third and fourth grade Battle of the Books team from Buffalo Ridge…

Information provided by Douglas County Libraries To be successful, small businesses need good information and help with business research. Douglas County Libraries (DCL) BizInfo business librarians help entrepreneurs and small businesses run their businesses every day. For established businesses, DCL can provide market research and lists, business operation assistance, and industry trend information. Editor’s Note:…

Plum Creek Ladies Golf League welcomes new members to its 2013 golf season! Join the 18-hole league, which plays each Tuesday morning on the Pete Dye-designed championship golf course in Castle Rock. The league is a fun bunch who enjoys friendly non-tournament get togethers. It also participates in the Tri-County B and C Team leagues,…

By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of Burt Bondi One of Colorado’s great success stories features Bert Bondi, a twenty-five year resident of Castle Pines. Bondi and Co. CPAs was approaching its 40th year when regional powerhouse RubinBrown acquired the firm in 2011. Who knew the owner had begun as a starry-eyed Catholic kid from Sheridan,…

By Chris Bonham Businessman and motivational speaker Harvey Mackay once said, “Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Many teens have dreams and ideas about what that something might be for them individually. However, many of them find themselves flipping burgers at a local restaurant, mowing lawns…

 Information provided by the Town of Castle Rock The Castle Rock Community Garden at Glovers Park is back and ready to grow for its second season. There are 24 garden plots available to lease on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $40 per season. Interested gardeners should fill out an application at CastleRockCommunityGarden.blogspot.com or…

Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Fourth graders at Timber Trail Elementary visited the History Colorado Center. The museum, which opened last year, features exhibits that illustrate how life would have been in Colorado during various time periods and allows visitors to experience life in the past first-hand. Students did 1920s homestead chores, constructed cliff…

A volunteer helping to sort and stock shelves in the food bank.      By Lynne Marsala Basche; photo courtesy of the Douglas/Elbert Task Force Fifteen thousand six hundred and eighty-four. This is the number of people the Douglas/Elbert Task Force served last year. Our neighbors. Our community. Fifteen thousand six hundred and eighty-four. If you…

Information provided by Tri County Health Department The first of three drive-through household chemical roundups this year, hosted by the Tri-County Health Department, will be held May 11, at the Parker Joint Services Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The events are offered free-of-charge to Douglas County residents. However, participants will be asked for…

By Lisa Crockett Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Wayne Ruegge has just wrapped up his first tax season in his new practice in Castle Pines. “It’s great to be here in Castle Pines,” said Ruegge, who also lives here with his wife. “Being here, I realize what a vibrant, growing area this really is. It’s great…

Every Wednesday in April, which is designated nationally as Autism Awareness Month, Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) faculty members wore a special t-shirt designed to raise awareness about autism – a developmental disorder which is now estimated to effect one in 50 children ages 6 to 17 in the United States. The weekly t-shirt-wearing effort was…

By Joe Gschwendtner Like to keep good company? Stay sharp intellectually? Lower Alzheimer’s risk? Have something in common with Warren Buffett? What if you could become a life master of something? Improve your self-discipline. Speak another language? Live longer? All you need is 52 cards, a pencil, paper, and three friends and you’re ready to…

John Fielder, Colorado’s premier outdoor photographer, presented to the Lone Tree Arts Center Guild on April 16. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan The Lone Tree Arts Center (LTAC) is very fortunate to have an active guild, whose sole mission is to support and promote the arts in south Denver. The Guild was started in…

American Academy Charter School, founded in Castle Pines in 2009, is underway with construction of its second campus. The new building is located on Motsenbocker Road and Mainstreet in Parker. Information provided by American Academy Last month, the board of directors and the American Academy (AA) administration celebrated the “topping off” of the steel structure…