WEEK OF JUNE 26, 2025
VOLUME 38 | ISSUE 30
FREE
Celebrations of Fourth set across Douglas County Fireworks, food, family fun will be order of the day BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When it comes to Fourth of July celebrations, there’s a cathartic feeling one gets when they take part in local barbecue, games and activities. However, others may want to explore what other towns or cities have to offer. To help plan out an exciting and memorable day, there are numerous ways for families, teens and adults to celebrate Independence Day all day long across Douglas County. Castle Rock
Anirudh Rao, left, and Aarna Varre present their Biometric Surfaces project in Washington, D.C. in early June.
COURTESY OF ROXIE BUSTAMANTE
Students use nature to address icy roads STEM students show how biological adaptations can inspire functional designs BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Taking inspiration from items such as mint leaves and cicadas, two students at STEM School Highlands Ranch are introducing a nature-based approach to address an ongoing nationwide problem: icy roads. Today’s solutions to improve icy roads include antiicing solutions such as salt or sand. But seventh graders Aarna Varre and Anirudh Rao argue those solutions are ineffective, expensive and harm the environment. Over the course of a year, Varre and Rao studied biological surfaces that have natural hydrophobic and ice-resistant properties. With these, they invented concepts for improving roadways to help prevent crashes during rain and snowstorms. “In Colorado, we’re sur-
rounded by mountains, rivers and lakes, and we wanted to show the world how amazing Mother Nature is and how it has its own solution to problems that humans are still working out,” Varre said. Varre and Rao are one of eight student teams who traveled to Washington, D.C. in early June to receive an award for their project in one of the world’s largest K-12 science competitions — the 33rd annual ExploraVision Competition. Ranging from healthcare to transportation, students had to produce a system or a technology with the potential to solve a challenge in the world today and in the future. Their innovations were judged by a panel of scientists across various sectors of the government, such as NASA, the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.
VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 14 | CALENDAR: 17 | PUZZLES: 19
One of Castle Rock’s most exciting free summer events, First Fridays, just so happens to fall on the Fourth of July this year. Starting at 3 p.m. at Festival Park, there will be a 5K for the entire family. Once the workout is complete, reward yourself with some tasty food and beverages from various food trucks, then have some fun exploring activities and games. And if you’re a fan of old-school country and rock n’ roll, then stick around, because at 6 p.m., Ryan Chrys & the Rough Cuts will be taking the stage. Fireworks are set to start when night falls, between 9-9:30 p.m. Starting with a three-shot salute, the 15-minute show will shoot off from the former Acme Brick facility on Prairie Hawk Drive. Other viewing areas include Metzler Ranch Community Park, Miller Activity Complex, areas of the Red Hawk neighborhood and Rock Park. For weather updates, check facebook. com/crgov. Highlands Ranch
“We’re always driving and noticing how dangerous icy roads can be,” said Varre. “One day, we just thought maybe there could be a type of way to fix the solution.” Rao added that instead of waiting for the opportunity to come to them, they would start making it happen.
One of the earliest celebrations in the county kicks off at 7:30 a.m. in Highlands Ranch with the annual Independence Day 5K. It doesn’t matter if you are an elite runner or just like to take a casual jog, the 5K is for everyone — including children and furry friends. Starting on Dorchester Street, the course takes participants north to Plaza Drive and back to Town Center South via Broadway and Highlands Ranch Parkway before coming back to Dorchester Street. Along the way, if you spot a hidden red, white and blue kettlebell and bring it to the finish line, you are eligible to win $100. The lucky kettlebell locator won’t be the only winner — medals will be awarded for the top three partici-
SEE STEM, P12
SEE FIREWORKS, P8
Examples of the patterns embedded in asphalt that help increase fricPHOTO BY HALEY LENA tion and reduce ice adhesion.
“You can just have an idea, and that’s good enough for the future,” said Rao. “You can improve on it.” Pure curiosity
It wasn’t a homework assignment or a class project that inspired Varre and Rao to look into the issue of solving dangerous icy roads. It was pure curiosity.
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