Westboro Baptist Church pickets Denver's East High School

Remember the Westboro Baptist Church from Kansas?  The folks who picket fallen soldier's funerals?  The people who thank God for every soldier who dies because God is punishing America for tolerating Gay and Lesbian lifestyles?  The people who hate Jews and blame them for the problems of the world?  Check out the photos.

Yesterday several members of the church were in Denver to protest the National Allied Jewish Federation convention being held at the downtown Sheraton.  They had some extra time on their hands and decided to picket East High.  The school was notified on Friday.  My boys, Louie J. and Charlie decided to call for a peaceful counter demonstration Monday at 7:00, school starts at 7:30.  The message went out via social media.  The kids decided to wear purple in support of fellow gay and lesbian students and bring only positive posters.

Big Louie, the kids and I showed up early before anyone else had gathered.  Charlie was worried that no one would show.  At 7:00 a.m.  6 Westboro Baptist Church members set up their boom boxes and played "We will, we will rock you" by Queen at the corner of 17th Ave. and Esplanade (one of 3 the main driveways to enter the high school).  We thought it ironic they would play a song from an openly gay dead musician as their theme song.  They'd wrapped themselves in the American flag, drug a Gay flag on the ground and held up "God Hates Fags", "God Hates Jews" and "Jews killed Jesus" signs.  It didn't take long for the students to gather.  Denver Police, DPS Security were present as were school administrators.

Soon hundreds of kids holding "God even loves you" and "God loves everyone" surrounded the church people.  The kids sang songs and the school cheer.  I actually teared up when I realized that Denver's East High School Angels overpowered the ugly hate with love.  By 7:20 church members packed up their signs and boom boxes.  They were planning to picket for 30 minutes. Hundreds of kids politely escorted them to their car.

Other high school mascots are Hawks, Trojans, Cougars, Devils, you name it but East High are the Angels.  Westboro Baptist Church picked the perfect school to picket.

As the parent of two East kids, I am so proud of all 2300 students.  From the kids all the way to the top administrators and principal, this was one very classy event.  Melissa (Mom)

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Castle Marne B&B Honors Vets this Veteran's Day

THE FINAL INSPECTION

The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,

Just as brightly as his brass.

'Step forward now, soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?'

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't,"
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills just got too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fears...
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,

Except to calm their fear.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."


Author Unknown~


In honor of America's fighting forces, Castle Marne B&B is giving retired and active military a free night in Denver's premier Bed and Breakfast this Veteran's Day.

We're grateful for your service, it's our turn to serve you.

Thursday, November 10th, all 9 rooms will be filled with vets and their companions.  The next morning 18 rested folks will wake up Veteran's Day to a fabulous breakfast in the Castle's Peacock Dining Room.

A group photo will be taken.  Watch for video and photos.

If you are active or retired military and were unable to join us this Veteran's Day, Castle Marne is offering a 20% discount indefinitely.

On behalf of the family and staff of Castle Marne Bed & Breakfast, thank you!

1st snow of the year at Castle Marne Bed & Breakfast in Denver.

Tuesday October, 18th, Denver weather went from warm and balmy 80's to 35 degrees of snow and cold.  We got upwards of 8 inches of heavy wet snow in less than 24 hours.  Check out the before and after photos.  All over the city tree branches heavy with late season leaves broke plunging thousands of Denver residents into darkness.  Luckily the Castle Marne was warm and cozy.

Amazing Group-on Promotion!

Wow, Group-on!  The phones are ringing and our heads are spinning.  We're booking business and we are introducing the Castle Marne to thousands of new customers.  Monday alone we had over 11,000 visits to our web-site and have sold over 300 packages!

Thank you to all of our new friends of Castle Marne.  We are excited to have you joining us this fall and winter.  Consider booking a romantic candle light dinner for two in the formal Peacock Dining Room.  Give us a call and we can go over all the delicious menu options.   The web-site has some great  photos of the dinners.  Operators are standing by.  (I've always wanted to say that.)  303-331-0621 or www.castlemarne.com.

How did the Castle Marne get it's name?

The Castle Marne was named by the mansion's 4th owner following the end of WW1.  Adele Van Cise had purchased the home and was converting it into an apartment house.  She spent a good deal of money on the re-construction making sure every apartment had a kitchen and private bathroom.  She wanted her apartment house to have a great name.  Adele's son Edwin Van Cise, recently returned from WW1 had served in France, fought and survived the bloody Battle of the Marne.  He served in the 3rd Infantry Division.

He told his mother that the stone building reminded him of the castles and manors along the River Marne.  That's how the apartment house became known as The Marne.

More than 70 years later in 1989, the Peiker family purchased the house and turned it into a bed & breakfast.  The building had been empty, abandoned and in severe disrepair.  The Peikers, Jim and Diane, with daughter Melissa and her husband Louie Feher-Peiker needed a great name for the B&B.

Back in the '80's the primary way to find any business was by alphabetic phone book listings.  The Marne would be too far down the alphabet for future guests to find, the Peikers felt.  The building clearly looked like a 'castle' and the letter 'C' came before 'M', so that's how the name "Castle Marne" came to be.

A week with Tiny Tim

It was the summer of 1991 and Tiny Tim (born Herbert Buckingham Khaury in NY) checked into the   Castle Marne B&B.   We had the distinct pleasure of spending 5 days getting to know this amazingly talented and tortured musical artist.  

A local night club known as Ruby Nightclub booked Tim into the Castle Marne.  When welcomed by the owner Jim Peiker, Tiny Tim asked Jim to pick a song from any era and he would sing that song.  Jim said "what was the number 1 hit song in America in 1863", Tiny Tim sung out "Eating Goober Peas"!    Jim than asked for the most popular song the year the Castle Marne was built back in 1889, Tim sang out "Down Went McGinty" w.m. Joseph Flynn.  

Tim proceeded to share his passion for popular music history.  He claimed to have extensive knowledge of classical music as well.  As we got to know Tim, we learned that he had a very big heart.  He was a very gentle soul.

That summer business was very good that year and the Castle was sold out every night that Tim was with us.  Not a single guest that week believed that Tiny Tim was sleeping in the same B & B as they were.  He performed every night at Ruby Nightclub, slept in late and spent every afternoon at one of Denver's many hospitals singing in the various children's wards.  

When performing, Tim would plug his soprano ukulele into an orange construction power extension cord and close his eyes.  He never made eye-contact with his audience.  It was as if he was playing his favorite music for himself and we just happened to be in the room.  He was fabulous!  I have never seen someone who loved his music more.  It was easy at first to laugh at his outrageous out-fit, (he didn't change his clothes once) but the more you listened the more you realized he was serious.

Was it all just an act?  In my opinion, no.  Tiny Tim was a quiet, unassuming man who suffered from an extreme form of OCD or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.  

When we met Tim those many years ago, he was wearing a powder blue tuxedo jacket with a toothbrush in the pocket, white tuxedo shirt with the matching blue piping, and black tux pants.  In his hand was a brown paper bag filled with his only other change of clothes (which he took to the dry cleaners), tooth-paste, more tooth brushes, a hair brush and several jars of Este Lauder face cleansers and creams.   While he spoke he would stroke his long, shiny curly black hair.  

The first night he was with us Jim got a frantic phone call.  "Mr. Pike, please get over here quick!"  Jim ran up to his room and found Tim on the bed in the Lang room curled up in the fetal position.  With a trembling voice he told Jim he was desperately afraid of Miller Moths.  That summer Denver was in the middle of one of the worst infestations of Miller Moths ever recorded.  Jim got the vacuum cleaner and sucked them all up.  Every evening while Tim was performing Jim would check his room for moths.  

One afternoon Tim complimented me on how clean his shower was.  He said he should know, he took 10-11 showers a day!  

My husband Louie asked him what would he be doing if he wasn't Tiny Tim.  He told Louie that he'd probably be a messenger boy in mid-town Manhattan.

We have wonderful memories of Tiny Tim.  He was a charming and delightful human being.  We are grateful for the week we spent with him.

Free Rooms for Vet's Sold Out

The Better Way to Stay promotion offering FREE rooms for Vet's and Active Military Veteran's Day has been so successful the Castle Marne Bed & Breakfast is Sold Out.  We are keeping a Waiting List in case someone has to cancel.

Just because we're sold out on the 10th of November, doesn't mean your out in the cold.  Castle Marne offers a 20% discount to all Active Military and First Responders, and 15% for all Retired Military 7 days a week!

We want to thank our service men and women all year long.  Give us a call and we'll assist you in selecting the perfect room for you.  Afternoon tea, late night cookies and a full breakfast are all included in the price.  Several of our rooms have either an in-room jetted whirlpool tub or a private hot tub on the private balcony.  Sorry, no T.V., but we do have free WIFI and free parking.

Unplug just a little, get your R&R here at the Castle Marne Bed & Breakfast.  Call toll-free to  make your reservation.  1800-92MARNE.