Ramblings Around Denver

Highlands Ranch parks provide a great setting to host graduation, birthday and family reunion events. Twenty-two of the 25 parks in Highlands Ranch feature park shelters and they are booking fast for 2012 events. Park shelters, sports fields, horseshoes and bocce ball courts may be reserved for your private event.

“Marcy Park was absolutely perfect for my nine-year-old son’s birthday party! We had shade, play area, the stream, clean bathroom, and a lot of fun, “ said Brenda Kallas.

Civic Green Park, located in the heart of the community, is available to rent for community or private events such as concerts, fundraisers, cultural performances, holiday celebrations, graduation and birthday parties, art events, company outings and more. In…

Bruce Swedal earns the Graduate Realtor® Institute Designation.

It takes much more than motivation and initiative to succeed in the current Denver real estate environment. In this competitive field it takes commitment to pushing the boundaries in technology and gaining in-depth knowledge of both the fundamentals and technical aspects of Real Estate. Earning the Graduate, Realtor® Institute designation demonstrates a commitment to provide exemplary services for both home buyers and home sellers.

GRI designees:

• Have pursued a course of study that represents the minimum common body of knowledge for progressive real estate professionals.
• Have developed a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to navigate the current real estate climate—no…

Kids love trick-or-treating and Halloween is a fun annual event that kids look forward to. There are potential dangers in the dark that both parents and kids need to be aware of. With that in mind here are some tips that can make for a safer and happier Halloween for your kids:

1. Trick or treat in groups - by using the buddy system where kids go with parents, siblings or friends. If parents will not be going with the group make sure that the kids know the area well that they will be trick or treating in.
2. Don't ever go into a stranger's home - If someone invited you in to see their decorations, get candy or whatever - say no thank you and leave. Only take candy from those homes that give it out at the door.
3. Eat a healty meal prior to…

The public is invited to attend the dedication of the community’s newest park, Fly’n B Park, Thursday, Aug. 11 from 3:30 until 5:30 p.m. The park is located at 2910 W. Plaza Dr., in the northwestern part of Highlands Ranch near the intersection of Plaza Dr. and Santa Fe Dr. along the 65-mile-long High Line Canal Trail.

Guests can explore the new park and learn about its rich history. Metro District staff will be available to talk about fishing, aircraft, apples, the history of the root cellar, and other Metro District programs and events. Guests can also stop by and pet an alpaca.

The park site was once home to a series of farmers and ranchers drawn to the site due to its location along the High Line Canal. The name Fly’n B Park stems from its…

1. Always keep a path to the door clear of snow and ice.
2. It is darker so turn on all the lights and turn off the TV.
3. Make a warm and inviting atmosphere on a cold day by turning on the heat… Who wouldn’t want to stay warm on a cold day?
4. Create a calming mood with vases of flowers, a breakfast tray on the master bed, the dining room table set with candles, etc…
5. Turn on some soft music but do not use a radio station…
6. Don’t over scent and if you use them the fresh clean versions are best. If you want that fresh baked…

The Meadows was designed to allow its residents to appreciate the natural beauty and splendor of Colorado. The development was carefully planned and built to ensure that while every comfort would be provided, nature would be preserved. From their new homes, Meadows residents can enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding open spaces and access to some of the most beautiful recreational spaces in the state.

Despite the proximity of the development to this beautiful wilderness, the Meadows is also within easy reach of the friendly community of Castle Rock. Castle Rock is an attractive town, with many historic brick buildings dating back to the Old West. There are some excellent restaurants and shops in the town, as well as a weekly farmer's market on…

The Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania Street, Denver, was once the home of the Unsinkable Molly Brown. Margaret Brown was an American philanthropist and socialite. She gained her nickname after surviving the sinking of the Titanic. She was one of the survivors in lifeboat 6, and it was she who convinced the others in the lifeboat that they must return to look for more survivors. Unfortunately, by the time she and the other passengers were able to convince the sailors on board to return, there were no survivors to be found.

Margaret Brown led an interesting life, which visitors to the museum can learn about from the informative exhibits that are presented in it. The museum also presents exhibits about the history of Denver. Her former home is…

Justina Ford was the first African American woman to become a licensed doctor in Colorado. Justina Ford grew up in Knoxville in Illinois. As a child, she had assisted her mother, whose work nursing other slaves had supported her family. This experience led her to follow a career in medicine, with the support and financial help of her family.

Justina Ford was a pioneering physician who, in 1899, graduated from Hering Medical College. She first practiced in Alabama, but moved to Denver seeking an environment in which she, as an African-American, would have better opportunities to work as a doctor. The rapid westwards expansion meant that Colorado offered opportunities for all sorts of people.

However, when she applied for a license to practice in…

Highlands Ranch, like many communities in the Denver area, enjoys an excellent parks system which presents its residents with endless opportunities for sport and recreations. For dog owners, however, one of the most important benefits of living in or near Highlands Ranch is access to the local dog parks.

There are four dog parks which are available in the Highlands Ranch area, each of which offers an attractive space in which to exercise your dog. Dogs can also be walked in other parts of the neighborhood, but these are the spaces that have been set aside so that you can safely let your dog run around without a leash. Each of the dog parks is next to a larger park, which you may be able to walk your dog in, as long as you keep it on a leash. The dog…

Green Oaks is one of the most desired neighborhoods in the Greenwood Village. The neighborhood features beautiful real estate with huge yards that stay beautifully manicured, community events, provides residents with neighborly referrals, has a swim team, a spacious pool and tennis courts, plus mothers are always helping each other out and exchanging mouth watering recipes that can be served to their families. The homes found here are high end homes and there are also many executive homes that can be found which are extremely prestigious and just spectacular.

This is a neighborhood that truly embodies the statements of "love thy neighbor" and "it takes a village to raise a child." The swim team brings all the neighborhood families together as one.…