The Connection

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…

    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

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…

By Elean Gersack; logo courtesy of The Dumb Friends League Grab your buddies and fetch your four-legged friends and then head to Washington Park on Saturday, May 4, at 9 a.m. for the Furry Scurry. This annual event for dog lovers will include fun for all, as the Dumb Friends League raises money to care…

By Elean Gersack 9Health Fair is coming to locations across Colorado in April and both Sky Ridge Medical Center and the Castle Rock Recreation Center will play host. The 9Health Fair has become an annual regimen for those taking charge of personal health and wellness. The Castle Rock Recreation Center will host the fair on…

The fun and unique invitation, featuring the guest of honor and her husband, for the Warren Village fundraiser. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo and invitation courtesy of Julie Lamb “The dream that I dreamed was only surpassed by the magic that happened in the room,” was how Tammy Abramovitz described her 50th Big Love Birthday Bash…

Good food and neighbors made for a fun afternoon at the Winter Festival and Chili Cook-off in Castle Pines Village. Article and photos by Amy Shanahan Residents of Castle Pines Village (CPV) recently enjoyed an afternoon full of friends, food and fun! The Winter Festival took place on March 3 and was attended by more…

Photo courtesy of DCSM DCS Montessori kindergartners enjoyed recess in some of the unpredictable Colorado weather, an unexpected 65 degree day on March 13.

Members of the Timber Team, Timber Trail Elementary School’s student council, assembled 200 Easter baskets for donation to the Douglas County Task Force. Baskets, which were created for recipients ranging in age from infancy to 18 years old, included toys, school supplies, toiletries, and candy.

Castle Pines resident Kelly McAlear, here with her family, helps clients find perfect fitting clothes that “work with what they already have in their closets.” By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Kelly McAlear Style consultant Kelly McAlear of Castle Pines has joined a customer-focused business that brings custom luxury menswear direct to its clients, and…

By Lisa Crockett Craig Cook, a Castle Pines resident who works as the Chief Architect of Cloud Services for Longview Systems, is heading to Haiti next month in an effort to help the earthquake-ravaged country. Cook and 15 of his coworkers will spend a week building playgrounds and delivering school supplies. “The devastation there really…

By Julie Montoya March was a time of giving back for the Valor community through service projects and Discovery trips. Valor also reveled in the boys basketball, first-ever appearance at the 4A State Championship. The junior and senior classes prepared and packaged 100,000 meals for hungry kids around the world through Feed my Starving Children,…

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…