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Articles by Celeste McNeil
The Castle Pines Connection
Sandy Holcomb has been an Urban Park Ranger for Highlands Ranch Metro District (HRMD) for 14 years. She is passionate about nature and educating the public. Sandy’s love for education began as a gymnastic coach, then teaching at a nature camp focused on honeybees. Through these experiences, she realized the importance of community outreach which ultimately lead to her current role as Urban Park Ranger Coordinator.
The Castle Pines Connection
“Qu’ils mangent de la brioche” is falsely attributed to the queen during the French Revolution, Marie-Antoinette. The phrase has been widely used in popular culture for more than 200 years with disparaging, ignorant and indulgent connotations. Like cake, reading is sometimes viewed as extravagant, but do not let that stop you from reading about cake from the book list below. Maybe even go a little crazy and eat a piece of cake, too.
Educators honored by graduating seniors
Fifty high school seniors from Castle Pines and Castle Rock honored teachers, coaches and mentors who made an impact on their lives. A favorite of teachers, the annual teacher appreciation event is hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Former NBA player Jimmer Fredette was the keynote speaker (pictured above). The evening also included dessert, music and a video tribute.
Making her hospital better for patients
Stacy Farmer has her dream job; she is the Patient Experience Program Manager at AdventHealth Castle Rock. Her work perfectly pairs with her personal calling to problem solve. The daughter of a pastor, Stacy watched her dad counsel and minister to his parishioners and knew she wanted to do something similar.
The Castle Pines Connection
Women’s History Month was first celebrated in March 1987, though it began five years earlier as Women’s History Week by presidential proclamation. Born from the feminist movement and Title IX, the observance honors women and their cultural, societal and historical contributions. This month, look to the example of a few of the amazing women in the books listed below. Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.
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To honor George Washington’s birthday, Presidents Day was declared a federal holiday 145 years ago. Originally celebrated on February 22, which is Washington’s birthday according to the Gregorian calendar (see pullout box below), the holiday was changed to the third Monday in February due to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, which gave the American worker three, three-day weekends: Presidents Day, Memorial Day and Columbus Day.
Student authors write about school support dog
Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) has an emotional support dog, Lexi, and students wrote a book about her. Always looking for new ways to fuel his passion for working with kids, school counselor Clark Wilhelm attended a conference a few years ago about the use of therapy dogs in alternate settings. Involved with dog rescue work at the time, Clark knew Lexi would be a great fit at RHMS.
The Castle Pines Connection
The Burns family loves baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers, specifically. And it was no better year to be a Dodgers fan than this one. Village residents since 2016, Brian and Mindy with children Cora, Wyatt, Carter and Graham are obsessed with the Dodgers. It all started in southern California. Brian grew up in LA and attributes his passion for the team as a generational calling. “He was born into a Dodgers family; his dad was a huge fan,” Mindy explained.
Learn a skill and Stop the Bleed
Stop the Bleed is a national program that teaches non-medical professionals the basic skills and techniques to stop someone from bleeding out after an accident or traumatic incident. It is a 90-minute class that is like a CPR certification; neither are intended as full medical training. The class “empowers people to help themselves and help others until first responders arrive,” explained Tom Cribley, a Stop the Bleed instructor and member of Douglas County Search and Rescue (DCSAR).
What to read on the longest night of the year?
The longest night of the year is December 21. Historically, cultures around the world mark the winter solstice with fear and trepidation: creating celebrations of light to banish the dark; or with an attitude of hope and renewal: observing the gradual beginning of longer days. We feel the dichotomy of endings and new beginnings. So, carve some time from the hustle and chaos of the holidays and embrace the intrinsic yearning to slow down and savor the quiet moments with a cozy quilt and a good book.
Toni Fortson Merfeld visits Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) once a year, at the end of September. She has visited the school for more than two decades as a way to remember her son, Wesleigh, who was a student there. Wes lost his battle with brain cancer at the age of 9; he was in the third grade. Shortly after his death, BRE staff organized the purchase of a memorial bench in Wes’ honor and encouraged the students to donate the funds.
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Beginning in first grade, Jackson Renberg wanted to be an entrepreneur; he even made a fake business nametag and decided Zing was a good company name. Fast forward a few years to 2020, when Jackson was 9 and home during the lockdown, the innovative and creative kid decided to try his hand at making soap.
A career of protecting and serving
Deputy Scott Kelly always knew what he wanted to do when he grew up: serve in the army and be a police officer. Despite not having any family members serve in either capacity, Scott has accomplished both. As an infantryman in the United States Army, Scott was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with the 101st Airborne Division. He served our country in active duty for four years and is proud to be a non-commissioned officer.
The Castle Pines Connection
Good literature can be found across the globe. Some of the most popular books written by international authors are listed in our monthly recommendations. Curl up with a hot drink, crack open a book that has been translated from another language and maybe discover another perspective. The Enigma of Room 622 by Italian author Jӧel Dicker is a mystery wrapped in a mystery. It begins with a body found in room 622 of a fancy hotel in the Alps.
RHMS journalism students win statewide award
Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) yearbook students won the All-Colorado award in the yearbook category at the Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA)’s Journalism Day (J-Day), held at CU Boulder. The yearbook met the criteria for reaching all the benchmarks for an exceptional product.
The Castle Pines Connection
Horror and thriller books have been around for centuries. Beginning with the rise of Gothic literature in the mid-18th century, the first horror book was The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole, published in 1765. Other notable early scary stories include Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) and The Tell-Tale Heart from Edgar Allan Poe (1843). Horror and thriller books have been terrifying readers ever since.
The Castle Pines Connection
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) Deputy Jared Walter loves his job. Jared is the School Resource Officer (SRO) for Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS). A career in law enforcement was not always his plan, but Jared cannot think of anything else he would rather do. Born and raised in Elizabeth, Jared and his family still live in Elbert County. His wife, Amanda, also grew up in Elizabeth. Amazingly, in a town of around 1,000 residents, they did not know each other when they were younger.
Back to school equals back to fun
Buffalo Ridge Elementary families gathered for the annual back to school carnival. A fundraiser for Buffalo Ridge Elementary Alliance (the parent teacher association), the carnival is a favorite event for all. Activities included bouncy houses, Nerf wars, carnival games, face painting, a dunk tank, a cake walk, jugglers, and exploring the inside of a firetruck and ambulance. Food included popcorn, cotton candy and a variety of food trucks. By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Tim Ryckman
The Castle Pines Connection
As of May, The Bundt Shoppe has new owners. Jake and Savannah Whitehead bought the franchise for all three locations in the area: Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch and Greenwood Village. Jake and Savannah tasted their first bundts when they moved to The Village at Castle Pines in 2021. “I absolutely loved the cake,” Jake said. Fast forward a few years when Jake was looking for a new business opportunity.
The Castle Pines Connection
Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) School’s before and after program is thriving and this summer was no exception. The Before and After School Enrichment (BASE) program hosted 45-60 kids each day, running from late May to early August. Students arrived as early as 7:00 a.m. and stayed as late as 5:30 p.m. The calendar was full of exciting field trips and fun, in-school activities.
DCSO prepares for golf tournament
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is preparing for the BMW Championship. The team has been diligently working hard for more than a year with the goal “to ensure the safety and security of all participants, attendees and staff during the event,” stated DCSO Public Information Officers. Held every year in a different location around the United States, the BMW Championship organizers work to continually improve logistics and procedures.
Educating preschoolers and senior citizens
Betsy Mullison has always had a passion for education. She is currently a medical insurance broker, educating senior citizens on Medicare. Prior to this career, Betsy had a hand in the lives of countless little ones: she ran a preschool from her home for 15 years. Both originally from California, Betsy met her husband, Charlie, in San Francisco, where Betsy grew up and Charlie attended school. She worked for Williams Sonoma and he for Nordstrom.
Colorful Colorado, from the pages of a book
Colorado became the 38th state on August 1, 1876. Proclamation 230, signed by President Ulysses S. Grant, admitted Colorado to the Union after 15 years as a territory. Statehood came 100 years and four weeks after the Declaration of Independence was signed, giving us the unofficial moniker of the “Centennial State.” Widely known for our high elevation, geographic diversity and emphasis on outdoor recreation, we live in the eighth largest state.
Setting swim goals and records
Carstyn Lesser is a typical seventh grader. She loves hanging out with friends and family. She is also a competitive swimmer who set a personal goal to break a record in at least one event; this summer she broke four. Carstyn has been swimming for as long as she can remember, starting on a competitive swim team when she was 6. Swimming is in her blood – her mom, grandfather and great aunt were all competitive swimmers in college and even in the Olympics.
The Castle Pines Connection
Financial scams involving gold bars have been around for a long time. They typically have about a one percent arrest rate and are difficult to solve because it is hard to find the criminals. Recently, there has been a rash of gold bar scams targeted at older Douglas County residents. In this variation of the scam, victims are urged over the phone to purchase physical gold bars, because their account has been compromised.
The Castle Pines Connection
Senior Resource Deputy Ryan Falkner has many passions, but the most overarching one is helping others. He fills his professional life and his free time with service. Ryan has worked for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) for the past 17 years. “I am grateful to focus on my passion for giving older adults their true golden years,” said Ryan. Law enforcement is a Falkner family affair.
The Castle Pines Connection
Fairy tales are an integral aspect of our shared culture, and the mere mention of fairy tales and folklore can conger tales from Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. The brother’s collection of folklore was originally published in 1812 and today, these tales are still relevant and often reimagined. Pick up one of the modern retellings listed below and get lost in fantasy, magic and intrigue. What the Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy by Gregory Maguire.
The Castle Pines Connection
Bryanna Munns has the perfect job. She is an Animal Law Enforcement (ALE) sergeant for Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). Animal control services for DCSO are contracted through the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR), that also contracts with El Paso and Pueblo counties and the City of Centennial. ALEs are authorized by the law enforcement agencies in the cities and counties they serve. Many are also agents of the Bureau of Animal Protection.
Community baby shower celebrates moms and babies
The Castle Rock Relief Society (CRRS) partnered with AdventHealth Castle Rock’s Mommy and Me Market (MMM) and held a community baby shower in April at the hospital. The event served as a depository of nine nonprofit community organizations and agencies that specifically support new families in different ways, from counseling services, peer-to-peer support, basic life necessities like rent and help with special needs. This is the second annual CRRS baby shower.
The Castle Pines Connection
“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it is too dark to read,” quipped Groucho Marx. Big and small, animals captivate us. This month’s book recommendations focus on animals and our interaction with them. Sometimes they are the main character and sometimes they inform the bipedal characters of a different way of being. So, grab one of these reads and snuggle with the animals in your house.
The Castle Pines Connection
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Sound advice for all of us. Anyone can fall victim to scams. A 2022 report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that adults of all ages fall for scams, but the type of scams is different for older and younger adults. Adults 60 and older typically report more losses than younger adults with tech support, prize or lottery scams.
Launching science fair excitement
Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) school held its 12th annual science fair this spring. Students got excited weeks before the fair with grade level science demonstrations. Kindergarten students had several volunteers come into their classrooms to do demonstrations about diffusion, capillary action and sublimation. Second graders witnessed demonstrations that related to their Earth science curriculum, including earthquakes, volcanoes and pH.
A critical component of DCSO: Community Safety Volunteers
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has a team of volunteers who are making a huge difference in law enforcement. The Community Safety Volunteers (CSV) are Douglas County residents who are trained to be invaluable assets; they work in tandem with deputies and civilian office staff to help cover many of the tasks and duties that do not require a sworn officer to complete.
Pulitzer Prize-winning books
Joseph Pulitzer, a visionary newspaper publisher and Hungarian immigrant, single-handedly raised the bar for American journalism. Establishing the first collegiate-level journalism program at Columbia University, Pulitzer further endowed the university with guidelines and funds to establish the Pulitzer Prize “as an incentive to [journalistic] excellence,” states the Pulitzer website.
BRE solar eclipse watch party
Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) capitalized on the recent solar eclipse. On April 8, a school-wide community event was scheduled during the peak viewing hour. Principal Jen Murdock-Jacoway ensured the school had enough NASA-certified viewing glasses for each student to have a pair.
Grateful students honor teachers
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently held its annual teacher appreciation night. High school seniors and early graduating juniors from Castle Rock, Larkspur, Castle Pines, Lone Tree and Highlands Ranch honored a teacher, coach or mentor who made a positive impact in their lives.
911, what is your emergency?
Brianna Ott loves to live in Douglas County. She grew up here and returned after college to make her career, serving all of us in our worst times. Brianna is a 911 dispatcher at the Douglas Regional 911 Communications Center (DRCC). The DRCC handles 911 calls for the sheriffs of Douglas County and Elbert County, the Elizabeth Police Department, Simla Police Department and 12 different area fire departments.
The Castle Pines Connection
After all the precipitation of last month’s books, plants are the obvious theme in April. From the window box of herbs or succulents to the acres of community gardens and the wild foliage around the world, plants are ubiquitous, beautiful and bizarre. Whether your thumb is black – dooming plants in your care – or you have a green thumb, we all benefit from the oxygen they produce.
Diversity and inclusion at BRE
Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) has a new Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CDL) initiative this year. A handful of BRE staff members comprise the CDL team with the goal to intentionally incorporate conversation about the value of diversity at BRE. Multicultural Monday (MM) was the first activity the CDL team implemented.
Real word applications in the classroom
Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) speech teacher Regina Luber recently hosted the second, three-day Speaker Series (SS) of the year. Regina is passionate about incorporating real world applications into the classroom. SS has become part of the curriculum for the public speaking course classes at RHMS. Regina has invited many professionals from a variety of industries to come to speak to her class. The speakers shared their real-world experiences with public speaking and then fielded questions.
Law enforcement in his blood
Deputy Jeff Pelle of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has law enforcement in his blood – he is a third-generation peace officer. Joe Pelle, Jeff’s dad, recently retired after 43 years of police service, including 20 years as sheriff of Boulder County. Jeff grew up in Longmont and then attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley studying criminal justice. Beginning his law enforcement career in 2012 with the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, in 2016, Jeff moved to DCSO.
Stay dry and curl up with a good book
March is often the snowiest month in the Centennial State. Remember the blizzard of 2021 that dumped nearly two feet of snow in just a couple of days? Weather impacts our daily lives, but sometimes it demands to be the main character. These books feature wet weather, rain and snow, as a major element of the story. Stay dry and take a read – water and books don’t mix. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie.
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Every year, Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) produces a third grade show. The event requires months of preparation and practice and incorporates several educational subjects: art, music and physical education, with the respective teachers collectively taking on and overseeing the show start to finish. This year’s program focused on A HERD – BRE’s character development acronym: Academic Excellence, Honesty, Empathy, Respect, Dedication.
An amazingly determined and resourceful girl
Naomi Van Deman (10) is an incredible young lady. She is passionate about music and performing arts, active in choir, theater and learning the guitar. She likes cooking, riding her bike and horses, and spending time with her family and friends. Naomi is also a champion swimmer. Naomi was born with Achondroplasia (ACH), the most common form of dwarfism. It is a genetic anomaly that occurs approximately one in 20,000 to 30,000 live births.
The Castle Pines Connection
This month’s book recommendations are books with success on film. We all know popular book series that spawned movie phenomena, such as Harry Potter, James Bond and The Lord of the Rings. Authors like Stephen King and Michael Crichton have had multiple books turned into movies too. So, if you are looking to read the book instead of or before watching the movie, here are some selections, including several that are recent to the silver screen.
RHMS falls into a good book
Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) has a new book buddy program this school year as part of its goal for literacy promotion. General education (peer) students team up with significant special needs (SSN) students and read together with the theme: “Fall into a good book.” “We realized that everyone loves storybooks from a young age into adulthood,” said special education teacher Shana Fraley.
The Castle Pines Connection
South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) Emergency communications manager Chris Carnahan flies drones and gets paid to do it. Chris has been part of SMFR’s drone team for nearly five years. Drones are flown by SMFR dispatchers who are part of the agency’s Drone Team. They respond from 911 call centers to support large incidents. Originally used to look for hot spots in fires, the implementation of drones has expanded over the past few years.
Fieldtrip to celebrate Colorado history
Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) fourth grade students recently took their first field trip to the History Colorado Center in Denver. Fourth-grade curriculum includes a unit on Colorado history and the students also did in-school research projects for the school’s Colorado Day. For the past few years and because these students were kindergarteners when the pandemic struck, teachers were creative, bringing programs and speakers into the school for in-house learning experiences.
Soccer kicks for diplomacy in Saudi Arabia
Maren Hendershot McCrary has soccer in her blood.Growing up in Colorado Springs, she routinely traveled to Denver to play with a more competitive club; then in college for Brigham Young University, and then professionally before retiring after an injury. But retirement did not mean McCrary stepped away from soccer.She stayed involved in the industry through coaching, teaching and league administrative positions.
Traditions that hold us together
Traditions give our life structure and meaning.They help keep families and cultures knit together in shared and expected experiences.They create space and behavioral guidelines for celebration, grieving and living.As we get into the thick of this holiday season, traditions can lift us or weigh heavily on our minds and hearts, but either way, they seem omnipresent.This month’s books look at traditions in many forms and cultures.
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