The Falcon community got a big boost when Nick and Beverly Ordon moved to the area in 1967; in part, to fulfill a promise to their daughter.Nick Ordon was in the military at the time and stationed in Colorado Springs, without much prospect of relocating. “My daughter wanted a horse,” Beverly Ordon said. “Her mother foolishly told her that she could have a horse the next time we moved.”That was one of the reasons. But really we decided we wanted to retire into this area and have a little bit of space around us.”Plenty has changed in the 40-plus years Ordon has lived in Falcon. Although the home still offers a spectacular view of Pikes Peak and Cheyenne Mountain, the trees the Ordons planted on the once barren hilltop have all matured and now provide a quiet sanctuary around the home.Falcon’s population has grown as much as the trees – or more. Ordon said she remembers when the Falcon school district educated about 120 students. All 12 grades were housed in what is now Patriot Learning Center, she said. And 13 students comprised her daughter’s graduating class.Amid the changes in Falcon, Ordon’s commitment to serving the community remained constant.”Nick and I were very involved in the community from the time we got out here, hoping to make things a little bit better,” Ordon said.Her most recent labor of love is Falcon Senior Services, an organization she and her husband founded four years ago after their 60th wedding anniversary party.”Everyone kept saying we ought to get together more often,” Ordon said. They didn’t want the idea to fizzle, so they decided to start a group for seniors. They called a few friends and slowly began piecing together the current organization, all the while growing its membership.Ordon said the organization currently has seven board directors and is supported by the group’s fundraising efforts. She serves as chairman of the board, and has been the driving force behind membership growth.Now serving 120 seniors, Ordon said, “We have members from Falcon, Peyton, Ellicott, Black Forest, Elbert and eastern Colorado Springs.”Falcon Senior Services hosts monthly potluck luncheons that include an educational or entertainment program. The seniors meet twice weekly for an exercise program and are privy to a foot care clinic at Grace Community Church.They recently acquired a 10-passenger bus from Fountain Valley Senior Services to provide transportation to seniors for doctor appointments, shopping and other needed stops.”We’ve reached all our initial goals but providing daily low cost or free lunches,” Ordon said. To complete that goal, the organization needs a facility where they can prepare meals. Building that facility is at the top of Ordon’s priority list.”We’re calling it a place of our own,” she said. “It’s what we need to expand our programs and have a place where folks can go and enjoy each other’s company. There’s just nowhere to meet that holds more than 25 people.” The senior services facility will include a commercial kitchen, a multipurpose room that seats 150 people, a stage, an arts and crafts area, a television room and a game room.”We’ve thought about getting one of those Wii’s,” Ordon said.Fundraising for the facility is under way, and Ordon said the group has already received $75,000 in grants and pledges. They need $650,000 for the 6,000-square-foot structure, which will be built at Stapleton Road and Meridian Ranch Boulevard, next to the new Falcon Fire Station 1.In addition to grants, Ordon said the senior organization is continuing to raise funds through their bake sales, annual car show and Christmas craft show. “We have had tremendous support from local businesses,” she said, crediting their fundraising success to the many volunteers working on behalf of Falcon Senior Services.The group is also raising funds by selling engraved stones that will surround a water garden feature on the grounds of the senior center, Ordon said.”We are very enthusiastic; this is very exciting; it’s going to happen,” she said. “We’ve hired a grant writer who is doing a good job for us, and hopefully something good will come of it.”We need people to know and to donate … so we can get it going. This will be an asset to the whole community. I plan on us being very good neighbors.”
