Find Your Joy, And Don't Be Afraid of the Dirt
Ah, summer. The busyness of May is behind us (whew!), and June helped us ease into new schedules and rhythms. But there’s just something about July in Colorado: It feels good. Slower. Easier. It’s the perfect time to stop and smell the roses — or wildflowers (and you’ll find out where to go in our cover story).
This month’s Explore issue is packed with ways to help you do just that. Whether you’re looking to travel the state for some festival fun, turn your home into a peaceful retreat, or finally stop waiting for the “perfect time” to chase joy — Start. Right. Now.
One Douglas County woman has spent the past year helping others change their lives through outdoor adventure. More than a year ago, Kaylene Macias of Parker founded the Women’s Adventure Club, a nonprofit that inspires local women to get outside and use sunshine, movement, and community to start living lives of JOY.
I first learned about Kaylene’s organization a few months ago, ahead of the South Metro Denver Chamber’s marquee event, The Tank — an annual nonprofit expo where selected organizations pitch their causes to a "shark" panel for support. As soon as I saw WAC on the list, I devoured their website. I was signed up for the spring mountain bike team within the hour.
Kaylene shares the deeply personal story behind WAC in this month’s feature, including her postpartum mental health journey. While I’m no new mom (my kids are now adults), the Women’s Adventure Club has been a lifeline for me, too.
Coming out the other side of a significant health journey, I didn’t realize how ready I was for a new challenge, both physical and mental. So when the opportunity popped up to join the Women’s Adventure Club, I didn’t hesitate. It felt like a personal invitation to push myself, surrounded by a built-in community of strong, supportive women. All thanks to one woman's idea, and I'm so grateful.
Here’s to summer: To exploration, to joy, and to not being afraid of a little dirt.
JENNIFER STARBUCK, PUBLISHER @HIGHLANDSRANCHCITYLIFESTYLE
PUBLISHER
Jennifer Starbuck | jennifer.starbuck@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Sonja Nix | sonja.nix@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Angie Jehu | angie.jehu@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Angela Broockerd, Julie Hoglund, Kaylene Macias, Lindsey R. McKissick
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Angie Jehu, Janie Jones, Kaylene Macias, John Van, Abby Watkins
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Josh Govero
LAYOUT DESIGNER Andi Foster
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
Learn
3:5-6
July 2025 Visit our Instagram
Next-Level Coffee Hour
Join our readers and business community for our next networking event! We'll introduce you to the new Happy Crew Coffee House whose mission is to support youth with engaging programs in Douglas County. Come support local with us!
Morning Mixer
WHEN: 8-9:30 a.m. July 9
WHERE: Happy Crew Coffee House, inside the Business Foundry business center, 9044 Forsstrom Dr. in Lone Tree Register for our Morning Mixer!
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city scene
1-7: Highlands Ranch and Centennial City Lifestyle magazines teamed up at Uncorked Kitchen and Wine Bar for an incredible happy hour event on May 20. This engaging networking event was all about connecting local businesses and building a stronger community. A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out to show support and make this event successful! Photography by Angie Jehu
8-11: Golfers came out to take a big swing against childhood cancer as the inaugural Big ParTee was held at Meridian Golf Club in Englewood on May 19. The tournament raised around $75,000 in support of the WillStrong Leukemia Program of the Morgan Adams Foundation. The primary mission of this foundation is to fund cancer research for children. 12-14: On June 5, Adoption Options held a Cocktails & Conversations Happy Hour to support its mission to offer families looking to adopt a child flexibility, choice and ongoing support. Adoption Options hosts several events throughout the year to fund their programs such as Fostering Healthy Futures, Flexible Families, Infant Adoption and Designated Adoption Programs.
15-21: Symphony of the Rockies raised a record-breaking $96,000 in support of The Crescendo Project, the organization’s signature music education initiative, during its May Bridgerton-style gala. The sold-out event brought together patrons, musicians, and community leaders to invest in the future of young musicians across South Denver.
As a local, family-owned company, we are especially thankful to our community for supporting us through the years. When you choose Applewood, you’re investing in our employees and their families, and in turn, our community.
Know that you can rely on our team of licensed professionals to take care of any home comfort issues you may have, as we’ve been doing for over 50 years.
Elevated Dermatology Celebrates Grand Opening in Littleton
Elevated Dermatology and Skin Cancer Surgery Center PC recently celebrated the grand opening of their new Littleton location on May 8. Their open house included exclusive deals and prizes. They offer a wide range of services, from microneedling, Emsella, laser treatments and more. Their Parker location was opened in 2017 by Dr. Kate and Christopher Messana. Their new location in Littleton is 8089 S. Lincoln Street, #300. To learn more, visit: Elevated Dermatology
CEO of YANA Receives Award
Nikki Brooker, CEO of YANA (You Are Not Alone), was recently honored as Maternal Health Advocate of the Year and featured in WomenLEAD Magazine, in addition to other national women leaders. Nikki is dedicated to supporting all new moms to ensure no one feels alone during the transition into motherhood. Her nonprofit's mission continues to be a voice for maternal mental health in Douglas County.
The Lone Tree Arts Center's 2025-26 Season Kicks Off
Tickets are now available for LTAC’s 2025-26 new season, filled with diverse and exciting shows. The shows range from musical and theatrical experiences to knee-slapping comedy and so much more. You can buy your tickets online at Lone Tree Arts Center. Also, be sure to catch Tunes on the Terrace in July as Dan Tyminski will perform on July 11 and The Dreamboats will perform on July 25.
Photography by Elevated Dermatology
Photography by YANA
Photography Dreamboats Photo provided by Angie Jehu
HOW I FOUND MYSELF AGAIN—AND HELPED OTHERS DO THE SAME
Adventure is Out There
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAYLENE
MACIAS
Author Kaylene Macias (center) flanked by adventurers Caroline & Mari-Jo
The trifecta...sunshine, movement, and connection.
It started the day I became a mom, 10 years ago.
Night after night, nightmares about my worst fear, watching my infant daughter slip away in front of me. I couldn’t save her. I just stood there helpless, as it happened again and again. I’d wake up gasping, only to fall asleep and right back into the nightmare.
I never told my doctor about it. I didn’t think anyone could fix it.
The second sign came three years later, after my son was born. The nurse placed him on my chest and I felt ... nothing. No joy. No warmth. No love. Just hollow detachment. Over time, it grew into resentment, and I quietly blamed my baby for how broken I felt inside. I didn’t tell a soul, terrified that if I said the truth out loud, people would think I was heartless.
Maybe I was.
After having my third child, the nightmares came back with a vengeance. Night became a maze with no way out.
And the days? Even worse.
Physical touch sent me into a panic. I couldn’t hold my children. Intrusive thoughts whispered inside my mind. I was trapped inside a mind that was no longer mine.
One afternoon, my sister stopped by and saw through the mask I had been wearing. She recognized the signs of a mental health crisis, signs I didn’t even fully understand myself. I had been hiding so much, even from my husband. I felt ashamed, confused, and terrified of what the truth might say about me. But when my sister asked if I was OK, something cracked open. I broke down and told her everything: the nightmares, the panic, the numbness, the unbearable distance I
felt from my kids. She held my hand and calmly called a mental health hotline. I got professional help that day.
It didn’t fix everything, but at that moment, I wasn’t alone anymore. And the shame started melting away.
I was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis. My doctor gave me three challenges: Go to the gym to exercise. Spend time in the sunshine. Build your support network. It sounded so simple. But it wasn’t, not for someone still struggling just to get out of bed.
I had an idea: What if I combined all three? What if I invited women to exercise outside with me? I found eight women online willing to meet once a week. That meetup became the one day I got out of bed and felt like myself again.
After a few months, something incredible happened. I started smiling more. I started getting ready every morning. I gained control of my thoughts. Sunshine, exercise, and friendship were making a difference.
There was one moment when I realized just how much of an impact. It was late at night, and one of my kids crawled into bed to snuggle with me. And for the first time in months, I didn’t panic. I didn’t pull away.
I held my son. I finally felt that love I’d been missing for so long.
That moment was the turning point. I realized getting outside, moving, and connecting wasn’t just a challenge from my doctor: It was a lifeline. And if sunshine, movement, and connection could do all that for me, I knew I needed to help others experience the same healing. I became determined to turn my little club into something bigger, something to help hundreds of women feel better.
CONTINUED >
So I got to work alongside incredible women like Anne Sevilla, Michele Gratt, Kelly Phillips, and Ana DiStasio, who gave their time, hearts, and energy to build something new and long overdue for the women in our community.
Fast-forward 18 months. We’ve just celebrated the oneyear anniversary of The Women’s Adventure Club. We’re a nonprofit that offers countless opportunities to get outside, move your body, and build a support network.
The trifecta of sunshine, movement, and connection is at the heart of every event we host.
Sunshine lifts your mood and helps reset your nervous system.
Movement releases endorphins and eases anxiety.
Connection is the glue: It helps women feel seen, heard, and supported.
That’s why we do what we do. Movement rooted in joy, not judgment, can truly change your life.
In a culture obsessed with exercise as a way to change how you look, we focus on how it makes you feel . For us, getting outside and moving isn’t about speed tests or burning calories. It’s a tool for healing, not a measure of fitness. We are movement for your mental health.
I am so proud of what we’ve created for our community of over 1,300 members! And while my mental health
crisis was incredibly difficult, I’m now grateful for it, because it led me here.
Today, I love my life. I love who I am. I’m confident. I’m proud to be a mom. I hold my head high, take up space, and know without a doubt that I can do anything I set my mind to.
And the most rewarding part?
I get to witness that transformation in other women— every single day.
See them rise from self-doubt to boldness, from silence to sisterhood, from barely holding on to fully becoming.
Because when women choose joy, healing, and strength, it doesn’t just change them, it changes everything. They become the kind of women who lift others just by being who they are.
That’s the real magic:
Not just surviving, but rising. Not just healing, but homecoming.
So if you’ve been wondering where the real you went… Come find her.
She’s out here, in the sunshine, on the trail, beside women who will hold space for you until you remember your own strength.
We’re already saving you a spot.
In a culture obsessed with exercise as a way to change how you look, we focus on how it makes you feel. “ ”
Lake Hike Hiking
Women Strong
Our Wild Place
Backcountry Wilderness Area: A Place Where Childhood Still Feels Wild
ARTICLE BY LINDSEY R. MCKISSICK
Think back to summer as a kid. You might remember the well-worn path to the creek behind your house, the fort built out of scrap wood and imagination, or the familiar call to “be home when the streetlights come on.” But for most kids today, that kind of unguided outdoor freedom is rare: more nostalgic dream than neighborhood norm.
In Highlands Ranch, however, there’s a place where childhood still feels wild. Where kids can trade screens for sun, and the only algorithm is the rhythm of the natural world. That place is the Backcountry Wilderness Area.
Tucked into the southern edge of Highlands Ranch, the 8,200acre Backcountry Wilderness Area is more than just open space. It’s a deliberate piece of community design. Set aside in 1980 with the goal of preserving habitat and creating a balance between development and nature, the Highlands Ranch Community Association’s land has since become one of the region’s most cherished assets. Surrounded by growth, it now serves as a kind of Central Park for South Denver, a sanctuary of wildlife and wonder in the midst of suburban sprawl.
CONTINUED >
Last year alone, the Backcountry Wilderness Area logged more than 250,000 visits. Visitors recreated on 26 miles of trails, practiced aim at the archery ranges, and participated in educational programs that ranged from preschool nature play to outdoor survival skills. Whether walking, exploring or learning, these experiences help people, especially kids, form real connections to the natural world.
And those connections matter.
The average American child spends just five to seven minutes a day playing outdoors freely. At the same time, rates of anxiety, depression, and physical health concerns are rising. The Backcountry Wilderness Area offers a remedy: fresh air, physical activity, and unstructured play in a natural setting. Programs like Camp Backcountry and Sunshine & Storytime introduce children to wildlife, ecology, and the joy of discovery, all while planting the seeds of environmental stewardship.
“The recreation and education opportunities in the Backcountry Wilderness Area are always working towards our mission of conservation,” said Mark Giebel, Backcountry Wilderness Area director. “We’re able to engage our community, especially the kids, in nature, and almost without fail, they begin to care about the well-being of the Backcountry Wilderness Area and other nature around them.”
Last year, more than 12,000 guests—the majority of them children—took part in Backcountry Wilderness Area programs. Our new early childhood programs served hundreds of kids ages 0–6 with immersive nature play. These are more than just educational experiences. They’re character-building ones. Kids learn patience watching bugs. They learn empathy by sparing the anthill. And, without realizing it, they begin to see themselves as caretakers of the wild.
And, the nature here isn’t just surviving, it’s thriving. The resident elk population has doubled in the past decade, and turkey numbers have doubled in the same time. Trail cams routinely capture glimpses of black bears and golden eagles. Springtime brought a burst of new life with elk calves, turkey poults, and even a successful golden eagle nesting season. Fire mitigation and habitat improvement efforts are ongoing, and an exciting partnership with the Denver Zoo and Denver Mountain Parks will soon bring bison back to the area, an ecological and cultural restoration years in the making.
“Every decision made in the Backcountry Wilderness Area is made with wildlife in mind,” Giebel says. “We thoughtfully weigh the consequences of access and recreation to balance with the necessary protections to ensure wildlife and their habitat continue to thrive.”
“Kids learn patience watching bugs. They learn empathy by sparing the anthill. And, without realizing it, they begin to see themselves as caretakers of the wild.”
These stories — of growth, of stewardship, of wildlife coexisting with people — are made possible through the community’s support of the HRCA Backcountry Wilderness Area and its 501c3, the Backcountry Wilderness Area Fund. This nonprofit helps keep programs low-cost or free, maintains habitat health, and ensures that the Backcountry Wilderness Area remains a place where nature and people can flourish side-by-side. Consider this a personal invitation to take time to discover your local wild place.
Instagram: hrca_backcountry Facebook: HRCABackcountry
Join Highlands Ranch Travel President, Marcie LauritsenMann, for an exclusive South African itinerary in Fall of 2026. journey where opulence meets the untamed. Savor world-class cuisine, feel the pulse of the savannah, and behold sunsets that defy imagination. Let the local travel experts at Highlands Ranch Travel curate your bespoke escape into Africa’s most exquisite experiences.
High Culture Meets High Country
Refined Cultural Festivals in the High Country For Summer Exploring
ARTICLE BY HRCL STAFF
Chatfield Botanic Gardens Lavender Festival
July 19-20
Imagine yourself in the South of France and celebrate lavender with artisans, demonstrations and live music. Ramble among more than 2,000 lavender plants at this family-friendly event. Guests will have the opportunity to talk with Chatfield Farms horticulturists and farmers, purchase lavender products made by local growers and artisans and attend educational programs. botanicgardens.org/events/ special-events/lavender-festival
July 11-20
The “Wildflower Capital of Colorado” welcomes visitors to more than 150+ events led by locally and nationally recognized leaders in painting, pollination, photography, culinary arts, and more. Founded in 1986, guided hikes and arts sessions take participants into Crested Butte’s wildflower-filled trails to identify the beautiful blooms and explore our unique geology and history. crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.org
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival
photo credit: David Kish
Photo: Courtesy of Denver Botanic Gardens.
© Scott Dressel-Martin
Summers in the Colorado high country are hard to beat. Add great food, wine, entertainment, art, and the natural beauty of the mountains; there is no better place to escape from the dog days of the metro area. We’ve rounded up several options where high culture meets high country, some you may need to wait until next summer to enjoy. But keep them on your radar for 2026.
Breckenridge International Festival of Arts
Aug. 15-24
BIFA invites audiences on a 10-day journey exploring the deep connections between nature and human expression through adventurous, arts- and play-based programming that transform Breckenridge into a vibrant, creative playground for all ages. Taking center stage this year is Studio Roosegaarde’s SPARK, an immersive field of poetic, sustainable and biodegradable light sparks gracefully floating through the air. breckcreate.org/bifa
July 25–Aug. 5
Vail Valley Foundation’s internationally acclaimed festival will include 14 performances and over 30 events celebrating excellence and innovation in the world of dance at venues throughout the valley. Anchoring the season, five major companies, such as Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet and Paul Taylor Dance Co. will present performances and repertory specially curated for this year’s festival. vaildance.org
Vail Dance Festival
photo credit: Christopher Duggan
photo credit: Daan Roosegaarde, studioroosegaard
Telluride Film Festival
Aug. 29-Sept. 1
Every Labor Day weekend, Telluride swells with film enthusiasts ready for cinematic immersion. Passes go on sale in March, but no one knows until they arrive which programs will be featured; it’s a surprise. Recent Oscar winners from the festival include “Moonlight” and “Parasite,” alongside art-house films “The Imitation Game” and “Saltburn.” telluridefilmfestival.org
Food & Wine Classic in Aspen
June
While it may be too late to enjoy this year, the 2025 Food & Wine Classic featured over 80 cooking demonstrations, wine seminars, panel discussions, and spirits tastings, combined with five Grand Tastings where attendees sampled ingredients, dishes, and drinks from 150+ winemakers, chefs, and distillers. 2025’s headliners included Padma Lakshmi, Giada De Laurentiis, Tyler Florence, Phil Rosenthal, and many others. Tickets go on sale in January. classic.foodandwine.com
Sept. 12-14
A beloved Snowmass tradition, the 50th anniversary festival features three days of hot air balloon beauty at Snowmass Town Park. Friday features a Night Glow under the stars, where guests can walk among tethered balloons while enjoying music and concessions. The morning launches begin at sunrise on Saturday and Sunday, now the biggest mountain festival of its kind. gosnowmass.com/event/ snowmass-balloon-festival-2/2025-09-12/
Snowmass Balloon Festival
photo credit: Pamela Gentile
Photo credit: Jeremy Swanson
photo credit: C2 Photography/ FOOD & WINE
Emmanuel K. Eliason, CFP® President & CEO
ART & SCIENCE
COLORADO EYE CONSULTANTS is committed to delivering compassionate and quality care in a safe and nurturing environment. Using the latest technology and innovative practices, our doctors dedicate themselves to excellent outcomes, every time. For more than forty years, the Colorado Eye Consultants team has been caring for patients and changing lives.
To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, please contact us at (303) 730-0404.
Colorado’s Outdoor Elements
Four Elements Landscape and Outdoor Living Creates Award-Winning Spaces
Fifteen-year-old John Van pushed his lawnmower across a client’s lush, verdant lawn. The smell of freshly cut grass permeated the air as he meticulously cut it to his father’s standards. He never anticipated that the rest of his career would be about taming Colorado terrain and designing award-winning landscapes with Four Elements, founded by his father in 1987. “While in high school and college, I would help my parents out,” John explains. “I realized that I could make a couple of dollars, and that maybe I should continue. Twenty-plus years later, here I am. I try to make the company better every day and expand it every year.”
Because Colorado’s weather is unpredictable but perfect for outdoor living, as the sun shines 70 percent of the year, Four Elements specializes in outdoor living spaces. Spring, summer and fall are ideal seasons to enjoy the outdoors. Winter can be enjoyable with a fireplace, heater or enclosed patio.
“The goal for outdoor living spaces is to create ambience: A place for people to relax and enjoy being outside,” John says. “It doesn’t have to be a full-blown, expensive project. We can create something simple, like a small sitting area to enjoy a glass of wine at the end of the day.
John’s highly skilled team, Ron Atchison, in-house architect/ designer, Jeremy Hillman, sales lead, and Jimmy To, lead project manager, collaborate to transform projects from the initial design on paper into a stunning landscape. “It is satisfying and amazing to see the finished product,” John says.
Well-educated in Colorado’s native landscape, the team selects low-maintenance, functional, and sustainable elements for each project. If a house faces east and west, the design incorporates plants that thrive in that orientation. The soil composition, land contours, lot size, and budget all influence the choice of materials and the original design.
Hardscapes, the non-living landscape design elements, are a Four Elements’ specialty. Known for its creative, high-quality hardscapes, designs include stone, concrete, paver pathways, patios, decks, planters, outdoor kitchens, fire features, water elements, and more. Client desires, alongside the team’s suggestions, help select
ARTICLE BY JULIE HOGLUND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABBY WATKINS, JOHN VAN
durable, low-maintenance materials well-suited for the climate, enhancing the property’s value and providing the homeowner with years of enjoyment.
Lighting is the key to showcasing the design, creating atmosphere, and extending the day into the night. Four Elements is adept at creating and installing lighting options that make its projects stand out.
Customers rave about John and his crew for their outstanding customer service. Tom, a client in Littleton, says, “Working with John and his crew was fantastic! There are very few contractors that I would allow on my property because I am very particular. John and his crew are quality, good people.”
For clients David and Danathe Lyons, Four Elements redesigned their lot, seamlessly blending it into the natural terrain of their land. The project features various hardscapes, patios, a seven-drop waterfall, a fountain, a fire feature, pathways, planters, and precision lighting.
“The goal for outdoor living spaces is to create ambience: A place for people to relax and enjoy being outside,” John says. “a small sitting area to enjoy a glass of wine at the end of their day.”
“We have the most beautiful landscape in our neighborhood,” Dana says. “I watched the precision with which these guys cut the pavers; it was impressive. As an artist, I pay attention to these things. Their attention to detail was amazing.”
David Lyons added, “These guys are artisans, hands down. The team brought in a lot of organic elements, like we have in our home. We wanted to reflect the inside on the outside and make it look like the house was built around the natural landscape first, not the other way around.”
John doesn’t mow lawns anymore. Instead, he oversees each project as a designer and general contractor to ensure his team’s work meets exceptional standards.
Visit fourelementslandscape.com for a gallery of projects, a form for project inquiries, a list of services, testimonials and more.
This magazine exists because Jennifer said ‘Yes.’
Behind every City Lifestyle magazine is a leap of faith — someone who chose to shape the story of their city. They saw a chance to inspire, connect, and elevate the voices that make their community shine.
Now, new cities are waiting for someone to say yes. What if it was you?
Highlands Ranch City Lifestyle
Published
by Jennifer Loved by Highlands Ranch
JULY 2025
events
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
JULY 4TH
July
4th
Festivities in Highlands Ranch
Highlands Heritage Park
Kick off your 4th of July at the annual parade or family-friendly 5K in Highlands Ranch! Parade festivities will begin at 8:45 AM between Hepburn St and Ridgeline Blvd. The 5K Run/Walk will begin at 7:30 AM at 9352 Dorchester St. Fireworks begin at 9 PM at Highlands Heritage Park. Enjoy a picnic or purchase dinner from food trucks starting at 6 PM. hrcaonline.org/Events
JULY 4TH
Lone Tree's Independence Day Celebration
Lone Tree Elementary & Prairie Sky Park
The City of Lone Tree is kicking off July 4th with a Family Fun Ride & Stroll at 9 AM. This will start at Lone Tree Elementary and end at Prairie Sky Park. Enjoy inflatables, games, live entertainment and more at Prairie Sky Park from 10 AM - 1 PM. Live music by Gypsy Dreams: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac will begin at 8 PM with a firework show at 9:30. cityoflonetree.com/cityevents/july4
THURSDAYS STARTING JULY 10TH
Highlands Ranch Community Association Kicks Off Summer Concert Series
Highland Heritage Regional Park
HRCA is kicking off summer concerts in July! All bands will perform from 6:30-8 PM. Ninety2K will perform alternative rock on July 10th. Jewel & the Rough will perform high energy dance rock on July 17th. On July 24th, Christie Huff will perform country and pop. Phillip Lamar & Paizley Park will pay tribute to Prince on July 31st. hrcaonline.org
JULY 11TH
Chase The Moon Event in Highlands Ranch
Douglas County
If you love to run, especially at night, check out the upcoming "Chase The Moon" in Highlands Ranch! This 12-hour team relay and solo ultramarathon takes place under the full moon's light in the Highlands Ranch Backcountry trail system. It begins at 7 PM on Friday, July 11th, and continues through 7 AM on Saturday morning. allevents.in/highlands-ranch/chase-the-moon
JULY 26TH
The Right Step Gallop to Give
History Colorado Center
Join the second annual Right Step's Gallop to Give Gala to support their adaptive riding and horsemanship program, which serves clients with a range of physical, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive disabilities. At The Right Step Inc. nonverbal children can learn to communicate with a horse to 'walk-on,' or a wheelchair user can use a horse's legs to move instead of their own. therightstepinc.org
AUGUST 1ST
Library Partners with Local Brewers for 2025 Brew Tour
Douglas County
Douglas County Libraries’ annual Brew Tour kicks off August 1, featuring local craft breweries, coffee/tea houses, exclusive events, prizes, and giveaways. Participants can join the tour for free and visit participating partners through September 30 to enjoy community and great brews, earn points toward prizes, and be entered into our grand prize drawing for a Happy Brew Year package. DCL.org/brew-tour
Want to be featured?
DRINKS UP ROSEMARY GRAPEFRUIT
Crafting Cocktails with Fresh Garden Ingredients
Summer is here and what better way to quench your thirst than with drinks crafted from the season’s fresh produce? Embrace the natural sweetness of sun-ripened fruits and the invigorating zest of garden-fresh herbs. From crisp berry infusions to fragrant herbal blends, enjoy the art of crafting delicious and revitalizing beverages that celebrate the fresh flavors of summer.
LIME MINT
OSE MOJITO
Ingredients:
• 10 fresh mint leaves
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• 2 tablespoons white sugar (or simple syrup, to taste)
• 2 ounces white rum
• 1 ounce rose water (adjust to taste, as it can be potent)
• Club soda or sparkling water
• Garnish: Mint sprigs, lime wedges, edible rose petals (optional)
Instructions: Muddle:
Place the mint leaves and lime wedges in a glass. Add sugar. Use a muddler to gently crush the mint and lime. Pour the white rum and rose water into the glass. Stir well. Fill the glass with ice. Top with club soda or sparkling water. Stir gently. Garnish with a mint sprig, a lime wedge, and, if desired, edible rose petals.
PEAR FIZZ
Ingredients:
• 2 oz Gin (or Vodka)
• 1.5 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
• 1 oz Pear Liqueur (or Pear Juice)
• 0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 1 sprig of Rosemary
• Sparkling water
• Garnish: Rosemary sprig, grapefruit slice, pear slice
Instructions:
Place the rosemary sprig in a cocktail shaker. Lightly muddle the rosemary to release its oils. Add the gin (or vodka), grapefruit juice, pear liqueur and lime juice to the shaker. Add ice. Shake well until thoroughly chilled. Strain the mixture into a chilled glass filled with ice. Top with sparkling water or Prosecco. Garnish with a rosemary sprig, a grapefruit slice, and a pear slice.
