Read the stories from the latest issue:
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…
Pictured above: Mrs. Davis sits on her “letter rug” and is surrounded by current and former students who will miss her dearly. Mrs. Davis will retire as the last original teacher at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School after 16 years. Pictured clockwise are: Nichole, Aloe, Mrs. Davis, Mallory, Cade, Luke, and Riley. By Nichole L.,…
By Elizabeth Wood West In preparation for the grand opening of its new Lone Tree store this summer, Cabela’s is now hiring through May 4. According to Cabela’s Communications Specialist Wes Remmer, “We plan to hire approximately 200 full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees to staff the Lone Tree store. We are looking for customer service-oriented…
Castle Pines resident and former professional lacrosse player Bill Edell coaching a boys youth lacrosse team. This summer, Edell is running lacrosse camps at Elk Ridge Park in Castle Pines. By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of Bill Edell Castle Pines resident Bill Edell is passionate about lacrosse. He’s spent most of his personal and professional…
By Amy Shanahan Tickets are now on sale for a special event which benefits a wonderful, local non-profit organization, Firefly Autism. During the weekend of June 14-16, The Village at Castle Pines will host an art show featuring some of the country’s best artists. These artists work in a wide range of mediums, including…
The tech team holding their new Verizon tablets and certificates for winning the national app design challenge. From left to right: Jordan Peters, Rohan Balan, Christy Street (teacher and faculty advisor), Deanne Apke, Adriana Maldonado, and Shivani Chauhan. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Christy Street A team of five Rock Canyon High School (RCHS)…
Article by Elean Gersack The Buffalo Ridge Educational Alliance (BREA), the school’s parent-teacher organization, has set the activity calendar for the 2013-2014 school year and is seeking businesses to support the school by sponsoring events. “By supporting our school, businesses support our community,” said Lesley Gibson, BREA sponsorship chairperson. “This year, we created a menu…
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
Let the kids roar at the zoo Article and photos by Liz Jurkowski You are finished with Denver and are looking to branch out. You have visited the zoo, the museums, the Botanical Garden, and everything else Denver has to offer and are ready to journey to a new destination, right? Then pack the kids…
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…
What started as a handout for his patients turned into an informative and interesting book by Dr. Bill Lee. Lee believes that all adults have the ability to take charge of their wellness and aging by practicing good health. By Amy Shanahan, photo courtesy of Dr. Bill Lee Dr. Bill Lee, a resident of Castle…
Castle Pines resident Pete Solano’s passion for running has translated into his profession. His Boulder Running Company store is being rebranded, and is now Run Colorado. By Elizabeth Wood West; photo by Tim Gamble “Running has been a constant for most of my life,” said Pete Solano, Castle Pines resident and owner of the Boulder…
Information courtesy of the Douglas County Sheriff’s website. Coyote sightings have been on the rise in Castle Pines so it’s a good time to be reminded about coyote safety for your family and for your pets. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has received multiple calls in the last month about coyote sightings and encounters in…
Scot Chadwick and his daughter Essa had a blast on the dance floor during the Father Daughter Dance at The Country Club at Castle Pines. The dance has become a fun annual tradition for many members and their guests. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan The Macarena and Gangnam Style were just two of the…
By Liz West Beginning with the April issue, a familiar section of The Castle Pines Connection newspaper has been brought back by popular demand. Our “Community Connections” section is our version of a business directory and is designed to be a useful resource for our readers, as well as an affordable marketing tool for small…
Gary Ewing is retiring from Rocky Heights Middle School after serving as the head of security for the past ten years. His warmth and genuine kindness toward the staff, parents, and students will be greatly missed. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan They may not know him by name, but any parent who has dropped…
By Elean Gersack; logo courtesy of The Cherry Creek Sneak Lace up for the Cherry Creek Sneak, Denver’s spring running tradition. This year’s race is planned for Sunday morning, April 28, in the Cherry Creek North Business District. Events include 10-mile; 5-mile; 3.1-mile (5K); 1.5-mile sprint; .5-mile Kids’ Fun Run (ages 8 and younger); and…
Rocky Heights Middle School seventh graders (from left) Karen Yi, Shreya Nallapati, and Sophia Klokinis qualified for the state spelling bee, held last month. Yi and Nallapati advanced to the final round. By Lisa Crockett; photo courtesy of the Klokinis Family Sophia Klokinis, a 13-year-old seventh grader at Rocky Heights Middle School, along with her…
Daniel Deschane’s love of maps helped him advance to the state Geography Bee. Article and photo by Amy Shanahan Most of us probably don’t know where the Sundra Strait is or which two islands it separates, but Daniel Deschane, a seventh grade student at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) knows that and much more! Deschane…
By Patte Smith The Douglas County Libraries score big time when it comes to fun ebook reading for children. Check out the Disney Digital Books that bring favorite, classic and new stories to life for young readers. This collection of more than 600 stories includes great tales like “Sleeping Beauty,” “Toy Story,” “Finding Nemo,” and…
Castle Pines resident Olivia Hamilton took an impressive second place in classical and third place in contemporary dance in the pre-competitive division this February. Alexandra Gray will be off to the Big Apple this month to compete in the Youth America Grand Prix 2013 Finals in New York. By Kathy Dunker; photos courtesy of…
Robotic creations included this chomping alligator by Abby Mays at American Academy during STEM week. Article by Kathy Dunker; photo courtesy of American Academy STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) week at American Academy (AA) is filled with fun, hands-on information for young students. March 4 through 15 was the Lego WeDo construction session for…
By Lisa Crockett “Wax It,” a salon specializing in hair removal, will soon open in Castle Pines with an eye toward good value and efficient service. Owner Christine Kemmer and her partner Omar Velayudhan plan to celebrate the grand opening of the salon, which is located in the Village Square shopping center, on April 8.…
Emersen M. takes a swing during coach-pitch baseball last summer in Castle Pines. Register now for summer baseball and t-ball for ages 4 to 4th grade with Castle Pines Athletics at www.castlepinesathletics.com. Photo by Cari Ogg.
RCHS Principal Andy Abner with Apple award winner Shawndra Fordham. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Julie Lamb Shawndra Fordham, science teacher at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS), is glad her husband kept insisting she become a teacher. She was working for the National Park Service and missing the interaction with people when her husband…
Article by Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Kim Butorac Children from the remote village in Haiti, L’Asile, are excited to receive new uniforms for their music program (pictured below). The program, Music Of The Heart, was founded in 2011 by Surrey Ridge resident Kim Butorac. The nonprofit program assists children of these villages in learning…
The City of Castle Pines may soon have a community garden. The Canyons, a mixed-use development slated to be built in the city on the eastern side of I-25, has given the garden a home. The garden will include 50 individual garden plots, as well as parking, a pergola, and composting areas that residents can…
Unused or expired medications can be a dangerous threat to children, teens and even adults. The Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is April 27 at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Highlands Ranch substation. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Medicine cabinets can be overflowing with pills. Between allergies, illnesses, injuries and surgeries, the bottles can accumulate…
Crews in lighting, sound, and special effects work diligently to transform a Castle Pines home into a wintery wonderland, as the backdrop for the filming of a television Tcommercial for SourceGas Energy Services. Article and photo by Julie Montoya; storyboard courtesy of Blue Onion Advertising It was the talk of the town … the BristolCone…
The Castle Pines Connection staff, families, and friends had a great time working the phone bank at Rocky Mountain PBS. By Kathy Dunker; photos by Tim Gamble and courtesy of Rick Holtzmann On March 6, The Castle Pines Connection staff, along with spouses, family, and friends joined forces with Rocky Mountain PBS and volunteered to…
Story and photo by Lisa Crockett Anyone who knows me or reads this column regularly knows that I am not afraid of fat and calories. Butter? Bring it on. Sugar? Yes, please. White flour? Sometimes nothing else will do. But what you may not know about me is that I would also like to live…
Daryl Navarro interviewed Miss Colorado Hannah Porter for his T.V. show Colorado SportsConnection. Porter played football for Arapahoe High School as a freshman, and went on to win the Miss Colorado pageant in 2012. “It’s so easy to root for good people,” stated Navarro. By Amy Shanahan, photo courtesy of Daryl Navarro Daryl…
By Amy Shanahan A new dining option will soon be available in Castle Rock across from the Outlet Mall. Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers recently broke ground near Lowe’s, and is set to open in early July. Freddy’s is a franchise location of an enormously popular restaurant with 89 stores in 14 different states. Freddy’s…
The RCHS Student Council proudly displays the check that will make wishes come true. Mara is in the middle, wearing pink. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of RCHS STUCO The entire Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) community united for Wish Week and made wishes come true for eight kids with life-threatening illnesses. The goal was…
By Lisa Crockett; photos courtesy of Lutheran High School Lutheran High School boys and girls varsity basketball teams took fifth and third at the state finals last month, a true achievement for a new program at a growing school. “It was a lot of fun to play with the team this year,” said Reilly Carew,…
Lili Sannino’s primary class at DCSM experienced a little bit of Bulgarian tradition last month while donning their Martenitsa masks to welcome spring. By Kathy Dunker; photo courtesy of DCSM Bulgaria has an interesting tradition related to the first of March and is based on the founding of Bulgaria in 681AD. Students in DCS Montessori…
Rotary Club of Castle Pines Charter President Karl Krueger (left) and current President Elaine Love (center) presented a $7,500 check to Alison Rakotonirina, executive director for the Colorado Haiti Project (right). By Elizabeth Wood West; photo courtesy of Patricia Fiske Members of the Rotary Club of Castle Pines (RCCP) recently donated $7,500 to the Colorado…
By Chris Bonham Earth Day is April 22. For those who are unfamiliar with it, Earth Day is designed to raise awareness for what humanity can do to better conserve and protect the precious natural resources we have been given. Even those who have never heard of Earth Day may already know a few things…
Deputy Matthew Bach takes a quick break at Timber Trail Elementary. The school’s PTO and two local businesses sponsor a break station in the school’s front office to foster interaction between law enforcement officers and the school. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett A cup of coffee or a bottle of water is a small…