Neighborhood Gazette - May 2015

Blankets & Baskets:

Picnicssee page 10

Want to be Part of the

Car Scene?see page 12

GazetteNEIGHBORHOODGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteWheat Ridge | Edgewater | MAY 15 – JUNE 17, 2015

Wheat Ridge Opens its

Newest Parksee page 8

Continued on page 7

Continued on page 2

Crit Bike Race Returns in June

New Wheat Ridge BusinessesBy Cyndy Beal

Development and change does not always come without controversy—but

with new builds and businesses moving into the city, change is afoot in an epoch sense.

A Tale Of Two Grocery Health Markets

In May and June two new grocers arrive in the Wheat Ridge market, both on Kipling Street.

Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers

opens their new store on May 19 at 8 a.m., located at 4900 Kipling St., just south of I-70. To celebrate the grand opening, and in honor of the company’s 60th anniversary, the store is giving the fi rst 60 customers mystery gift cards. The gift cards will be in the amounts of $5, $10, $25, $50 and $100. Customers will learn the amount of their gift card at check out.

On Saturday, May 23 they are inviting the community to a block party and tasting event. This is the fi rst of several events from May to June in celebration of their fi rst store in Wheat Ridge. The Colorado-based company opened its fi rst store in Lakewood and now has 96 stores in 16 states.

A Sprouts Farmers Market opens Wednesday, June 24 at 7 a.m. This newly constructed 27,059 square foot store is located at 3725 Kipling St. It is the 17th Sprouts store in the Denver area.

Headquartered in Phoenix Arizona, Sprouts has more than 200 stores in eight states. They are one of the largest natural grocers in the U.S.

Sprouts is hiring around 100 full- and part-time employees for their new location. For more information or to apply go to https://www.sprouts.com/web/guest/careers

THE RIDGE AT 38 CRITERIUM BIKE RACE returns for a second year on Sunday, June 7 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The start and fi nish lines will be in front of Wheat Ridge Cyclery at High Court and 38th Avenue. The accompanying family-friendly festival is on the Green at Wheat Ridge 5-8 School, featuring live music, foods and other entertainment. Details: ridgeat38.com PHOTO: SHAWN CURRY

The Robot Sculptor Next Door

By Laura Poole

In a garage that smells like heat and burning metal stands 18-year-old robot sculptor Chris Mora in his welding gear, with the pieces of his

most recent steel projects, entitled Number Eight and a model AT-AT from “Star Wars,” laid out on the ground.

Seemingly reserved and quiet on the outside, Mora can actually talk for hours about his robots and yet only manages to share 90 percent of his passion in words; the rest is shown in his metal marvels.

This young artist started bringing his imaginative robots to life a year and a half ago when drawing and painting them no longer suffi ced.

“It took me years to realize I didn’t like two-dimensional stuff ,” said Mora. “I was making little sculptures out of pop cans and that’s part of it … I really wanted to SEE robots and the only way I could think of to do it was to draw them, but eventually I became so dissatisfi ed with the idea that I bought the welder.”

His mother, Teresa, was concerned at fi rst – as any mother of a young man who suddenly proclaims he’s going to start welding would be – but saw this was the path for him.

“He’s always been artistic. It started when he was really young. I told him when he was 3 that I couldn’t build him Legos anymore, that he had to build them himself, and he’s been building ever since,” she said.

By Cyndy Beal

Keep off the streets, sit on the sidewalks and watch the racers round the corners.The Ridge at 38 Criterium Bike Race

returns for a second year on Sunday, June 7 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The start and fi nish lines will be in front of Wheat Ridge Cyclery (WRC) at High Court and 38th Avenue.

The accompanying family-friendly festival is on the Green at Wheat Ridge 5-8 School, 7101 W. 38th Ave.

The festival will feature live music, foods and other entertainment.

Bike racers are advised to arrive an hour prior, at 6:30 a.m. In order to register and compete, racers are required to have a USA Cycling (USAC) license. All USAC rules apply. Bicycle Racing Association of Colorado (BRAC) membership is recommended to gain points for the Rocky Mountain Road Cup, a Colorado competition with multiple bike races, which starts in the spring and ends in the fall.

The Ridge at 38 Criterium is a gold-level Rocky Mountain Road Cup road bike race. It's a closed circuit, 1.15-mile course or loop with six corners. There are 12 races and categories, and range in time from 40 to 55 minutes per race.

The race course, primarily on residential streets, starts in front of WRC. The route includes High Court, 35th Avenue, Pierce Street, and sections of 38th Avenue and 39th Avenue. (Please see accompanying map for more detailed route information or visit http://ridgeat38.com/play/criterium/map/)

Criteriums are short one-day races, with multiple laps, and are the most common type of American bike racing. They are often ridden on closed city streets. These races are around a mile or less for a single lap, and each

race usually lasts from one to two hours. They are extremely fast, with speeds of 30 mph and up according to the USAC website (www.usacycling.org/road-cycling-criteriums.htm).

Criteriums are exciting and action-fi lled not just for the riders, but also for the spectators as well.

"You never know who's going to win the bike race," said Ron Kiefel, president and general manager of WRC, about criterium races. A rider in the lead often doesn't stay that way or hold the position for long. WRC is providing neutral support for the racers.

In a criterium, a racer may win prizes or merchandise for winning a single lap.

Kiefel also advised spectators to "keep your toes out of the road" and to "look down the road" to avoid colliding with riders on the course.

In August 1973, Eugene Kiefel, Ron's father, bought a bike shop, later named WRC. As a matter of course, for a family-run business, family members have spent time working in the shop. Ron's mother, Nora, and his two sisters, Erlinda and Leona, all have worked at WRC.

Kiefel himself is no stranger to road bike racing. Kiefel was the fi rst American to win a stage in the Giro d’Italia and a Bronze medal in the 1984 Olympics for the team time trial. He raced in and completed seven Tours de France, and was U.S. National Road Champion in 1983 and 1988, per the WRC website.

Last year’s criterium wasn’t a fi rst for Wheat Ridge. The fi rst was in 1982, followed by two others. However, this does mark the largest bike race for Wheat Ridge, entirely within its borders, with the possibility of hundreds of participating riders.

To volunteer or learn more about the Ridge at 38 Criterium, go to http://ridgeat38.com/play/criterium/

PHOTO: JOYCE JAY

2 NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – MAY 15 - JUNE 17, 2015 – ngazette.com

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Self-taught, Mora bought all his own equipment and materials and started to weld life-size robots ranging in height from his fi rst of 4 feet to the 10-foot sculpture in his front yard. It didn’t take long before locals noticed his work and began to ask him for their own pieces.

Mora says people would just walk up to his yard, admiring the giant sculptures out front, and begin talking to him about them. Soon he was making sculptures for residents of Wheat Ridge and making money, too, allowing him to further his passion and art.

Currently he is working on a piece for local family Moria and Mike Howsare, the design for which he’d been wanting to do for a long time. Finally the opportunity presented itself and he sold them the idea to commission a robot designed after his fi rst guitar.

“He was much younger than I thought and was very articulate and enthusiastic about his work,” said Howsare. “We spoke a few times before I commissioned him to build me a robot, and settled on one he had already designed and was eager to build.”

“This is a very special robot to me and I’m going to make sure they know that, Mike and Moria, when I give it to them,” said Mora. “I’ve been daydreaming about this sculpture in specifi c for years. It’s pretty much going to be exactly what I want. So I’m still sort of working for myself while getting paid; the best of both worlds.”

Based on his guitar that he got when he was 14, Mora had originally made a painting of it before wanting to bring it to life. He told the couple that he could come up with another idea for them but that they would “have to wait a lot longer for me to come around with some fully fl eshed-out designs.”

“This was already worked out because I never stopped thinking about this sculpture,” said Mora. Luckily, the Howsares liked the idea and Mora began bringing his dream robot to life.

Mora was always very creative as a child but he was particularly drawn to robots from a young age. One of his favorite movies, “The Iron Giant,” inspired and moved him to draw, paint and eventually sculpt these

unique robots. He says all of his robots are sad and are created with something missing or off skew, like an arm or a broken kneecap, but are full of character and movement. He makes the connection with their eyes because that is where he sees them as more than inanimate objects, and he feels immense empathy for each and every one.

“Some people wonder why I make robots instead of people, and I view it as a way of connecting to a life form. They have eyes. I can feel their emotion. It’s a weird thing to say but it’s also one of those eccentric artist things to say,” said Mora. “It’s a way to relate to conscious intelligent life forms that isn’t through people. It’s my way of feeling connected to something else that’s conscious, it’s dissociative.”

Mora always encourages his buyers to commission a new piece since he says that is always his best work. Perfectionism and a strong drive to keep moving forward with his work keep him constantly striving for the best, although he does still have a place in his heart for his past pieces and he always learns from them.

“I have a love of mechanisms. I’m also really, really organized and methodical. I do things in a very particular way and I think that’s one of the only reasons I’m able to do what I do. I don’t know anyone else that does what I do; that does the complexity of what I do,” said Mora.

“I’m extremely proud of him,” said Teresa. “It’s pretty amazing to have an 18-year-old son who has that amount of talent and vision and is making it happen. To think that your child could eventually end up supporting himself just by doing something that he loves is pretty spectacular. Most people in life don’t get to do that.”

“I think it’s so awesome to meet Chris and see that such a young man can have passion and drive for his art and work so hard to make a living at it,” said Howsare. “I felt like I had to encourage our local artist by buying one of his sculptures with hopes that this will enable him to continue his work and provide our community with another great citizen.”

To see more of Mora’s sculptures visit his website at http://chrismoraart.tumblr.com/. For more information, email him at [email protected] or stop by his shop right across from Discovery Park.

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LETTER TO THE EDITORNip the ‘Starker Plan’ in the ‘Bud ’

Dear Editor,In the April 2015 edition of the

Neighborhood Gazette, there was an article written about 38th Avenue and the call for a city center in lieu of the defeat of 2B by the voters. This new proposal has been made by one of the same members of city council who has advocated for the 38th Avenue road diet from the beginning and ignored compromise.

It’s time to nip the so-called “Starker Plan” in the “Bud.” The options in the plan that have been proposed were already requested by citizens, business owners, councilmembers DiTullio and Urban for the past two plus years. Staff followed the same public process during the streetscape project from Sheridan to Harlan back in 2000. This plan is not the plan of one person – as touted by Joyce Jay in an election year.

Calling the proposal by one council member’s name is just rubbing salt into the open wound of the people who went unheard for two plus years. The name of the proposal was coined in an election year to divert attention away from the fact that a majority of council would not listen or compromise on the road diet design of 38th Avenue. The lack of compromise caused the whole design (ballot question 2B) to be voted down by the voters in 2014. Remember, Pierce Street west was fi ve lanes (two east, two west and a center turn lane), so a four-lane design

would be a compromise and a win for everyone as long as there is a streetscape component with improved sidewalks, pedestrian lighting, landscaping, etc.

The previous council (and this council) and city staff have worked in an echo chamber with regards to the redesign of 38th Avenue. I say this not to create waves, but to remind everyone that the greater community deserves more than one redesign option for 38th Avenue for comment and review. If just one option is presented to the public again, and people believe it came from just one member of council who supported the original road diet and supported 2B, all hell is going to break loose and nothing is going to ever get done.

Communities should have leaders who listen, who are accessible, and who truly represent their communities. Collaboration and compromise will only be possible with everyone at the table.

Good politics is good public policy and this proposal has already started off on the wrong track because many of the unheard voices still feel unheard. The public deserves choices. Let's get going and start working together without posturing. All suggestions/options from the community should be considered.

Lastly, council needs to remember they work for the public, not the city manager or city staff .

Monica Duran,Vivian Voss,Wheat Ridge

Mora SculpturesContinued from page 1

ngazette.com – MAY 15 - JUNE 17, 2015 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE 3


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Getting on the Same Sustainable Page

By Adam Wylie

What the heck does “sustainability” really mean? It is used every day in all

different contexts. We hear about financial and economic sustainability, sustainable agriculture, development, transportation, sourcing, packaging, energy, growth, living, cleaning, design, and on and on. The word is readily used and often misused. Because of that, I am afraid it has lost its meaning.

The concept from which the modern definitions arise is usually attributed to the Iroquois Tribe, and goes something like this: “In all our deliberations we must be mindful of the impact of our decisions on the seven generations to follow ours." (That is where the cleaning and personal product company Seventh Generation took their name.) That is a powerful message.

What if we operated that way; what if we thought about the lives of our great great great great great great grandchildren before making any significant decision? Does that clarify what sustainability means? Probably a bit.

Try this one: “To be as we can always be.” So, if we are sustainable, it means we can live that way, with all the inputs and outputs, forever.

To test this, draw a box around your house, your shoe collection, your car, your workplace including your commute, etc. Then draw all the inputs including water, energy, fuel, food, chemicals, raw materials, products, people, money, etc., on one side. Draw all the outputs on the other side, including air and water emissions, trash,

products, money, etc. Next, sit back and look at the simplified equation you made. Do the inputs equal the outputs?

Assigning actual values to these inputs and outputs requires a complex project called a lifecycle analysis, but you can get a pretty good feel for how sustainable you are by just looking at your equation.

Now think about the 7+ billion people on the planet. The dream of each family living on a self-sufficient homestead is just not possible, let alone sustainable, with our global population. Cities are much less resource intensive overall.

This is not meant to intimidate you with the complexities of sustainability, but is instead meant to help us all speak the same language so we can all get better together.

Individual and even small actions do matter and lead us toward more sustainable lives. As we understand and learn from those small changes, we take bigger and more significant actions. Those are what add up.

As one my favorite characters said, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not” (the Lorax from Dr. Suess).

I once worked for a guy that laughed when people said, “Save the planet.” He said that the planet will be fine eventually. It is us that we need to save.

If you’d like to hear more about what your neighbors are doing to be more sus-tainable, join us at the next Wheat Ridge Sustainability meeting June 4th. For more information, contact Guy Nahmiach at [email protected] or 303-999-5789.

FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY

The Saga of 20th and Depewin Edgewater

By Joel Newton

The pothole filled parking lot of the former King Soopers at the northeast corner of

20th Avenue and Depew Street holds a lot of stories as well as dreams for our community. With the exception of Depew Liquor and La Cascada, the retail stores sit vacant. The exterior shell of the vacant King Soopers is covered with painted-over graffiti.

Residents are full of hope for the redevelopment of this property, yet what is its history?

Stories begin with it once being a city dump, which might hold the remains of Roger the Elephant. The land is just south of Edgewater Elementary School, and longtime resident Pauline York remembers allowing local youth to ride go-carts through the field. Bill Bossert also remembers the site holding a combination of football, baseball and track fields for Edgewater High School in the 1950s. Home plate and the spectator stands were where Depew Liquor is currently located.

Then in 1978 the land was purchased and King Soopers and became the anchor of what was then called Edgewater Village. As Edgewater grew and changed, King Soopers decided to vacate the property and move around the corner to Sheridan and 17th Avenue. The City of Edgewater purchased the property in 2004 for $1.6 million and it has sat vacant since.

Since the city purchased the property there have been a number of ideas for

redeveloping the property. The first was a $4.5 million Civic Center to be built by September 2005. It would have brought together Edgewater civic services including police, fire, public works, courts, council chambers and administrative office under one roof.

The proposal did not gain traction, so the city moved on and worked with Ice Ranch for three years, trying to bring an ice rink to the area. Again, the hope was to move city services onto the property anchored by the Ice Ranch. But in June of 2011, Ice Ranch pulled out of the development because they lost funding.

Now another developer, Trinity Development, is under contract to purchase the land from the city. Trinity has received a second contract year extension in the hope of finding an excellent anchor for the development. You can see the potential plans for the use of the land on their website, www.trinitydevelopment.net. Statements by Trinity Development representatives point to a “natural grocer” as an anchor as well as townhomes and apartments. These representatives say they are in the home stretch of finalizing the grocer for the space.

Stay tuned over the next year to see what concrete developments are in store for this property at the northeast corner of 20th and Depew.

Joel Newton is Executive Director of the Edgewater Collective; contact him at [email protected] or 303-748-0631.

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Edgewater: The City of Choice, Moving Forward

By Laura Keegan

Have you been paying attention? Edgewater is a hot commodity as the

metro housing market expands and moves west. Many of us saw this movement on the horizon some time ago. There is no stopping this phenomenon – Edgewater is one of the happening cities.

Our city staff, council, and boards and commissions have been planning for these changes and their consequential growth for many years. With the guidance and experience of our city manager and a staff aware of the ever-changing demographics and needs of our citizens, our city's journey has been paved with careful preparation and in-depth deliberations. These plans have also involved and included the voices of our citizens in numerous citywide planning meetings, surveys and discussions.

We are innovative, bold and dedicated in our path to becoming a city “Where Families Choose to Live, Grow and Stay.” This is Council's statement for our goals and objectives. These goals and objectives are posted on the wall in Council Chambers. With each goal we have action items to define and direct us to reach these goals. All are carefully thought out, discussed, and reviewed. We are continually aware of the growth and ongoing changes in our city. Every six months, we, the Council, evaluate, cross off our successes, add to and revise our goals. We work as a team to meet our city's challenges. With the counsel of our DOLA representative, our City Manager, our City Attorney and other professionals, City Council has carefully brainstormed

pathways for implementation of our goals. We are devoted to making this city the best it can and will be.

We consider past and present to plan our future. Council's current goals are to: 1) Maintain Edgewater as a city with financially sustainable assets and quality service delivery; 2) Align the city's recreational, educational, and cultural

programs with the needs and desires of the community; and 3) Implement a land use policy that will encourage economic development that enhances the quality of life.

Only a little over a square mile in size, Edgewater packs quite a punch. We have a population of 5,170 (2010 Census) with 2,060 living in owner occupied units and 3,110 in rental units. We have three public schools; five

churches and ministries; a mix of about 27 restaurants, pubs, bars and coffee shops; and approximately 68 service and retail businesses, ranging from child care, health and wellness to larger chain stores. All within walking distance!

Edgewater is changing almost weekly as our demographics and our needs morph. We have a blend of well-rooted citizens and those moving here with fresh ideas and the desire to make Edgewater their home. As the next few years progress, we will be forever changed. With well-defined goals and careful evaluations, our actions will move us to become the city where our citizens and businesses can put down roots and choose to live, grow and stay.

Edgewater Councilwoman Laura Keegan can be reached at 303-232-0745 or [email protected].

Governing During ProsperityBy Bonnie McNulty

Right now it appears Edgewater is doing well. After lamenting our need for a

health care provider last month I’ve even learned that we actually have one near Target. But I’m still hoping for a Trader Joe’s.

For years city officials have struggled with sustaining our city. Providing adequate equipment for our volunteer firefighters and our public works department was becoming impossible. With limited funding our traditional July 3rd fireworks display became too big to assure the public’s safety. Something as basic as maintaining water and sewer service was stretching our resources to the limits.

After lots of discussions, many of which lasted for years, hard decisions were made. We are all better for it. Our fire protection ISO rating has improved from a Class 6 to a Class 2, resulting in quick response time and reduced homeowner’s insurance rates for many of us. Our contract with Republic Service kept us from having to buy new trash trucks and gave Edgewater a successful recycling program. Through the careful planning of our city manager, with council's support, we have been able to repair and upgrade our entire water and sewer systems. Thanks to council’s continued focus on taking care of the bare necessities, we now enjoy the benefits of a full-time code enforcement officer and our own city planner. Our city is cleaner and economic development is

looking good. So now what? When times are hard

we come together and drill down to what is important. When our basic needs are taken care of the priorities become more blurred. How do we support the wishes of individuals without possibly infringing on the rights of their neighbors? For example, should Edgewater allow farm animals next door to those who enjoy city living? How about limiting parking to encourage fewer cars? Are pot shops good for revenues

or bad for our community? Should landlords have different property maintenance standards than homeowners?

How do we as legislators balance emotional and personal preferences with what is best for the whole? Governing during prosperity starts with understanding what folks want to do for themselves and what they want government to do

for them. Edgewater has always encouraged public comments at all public meetings. If you have something on your mind, let us know.

I’m still serving coffee and tea Wednesday mornings from 9 to 11 at Target’s Starbucks, and Thursday evenings before city council meetings. Thursday coffees start at 6:15 p.m. in City Hall and are often attended by several council members. If you‘d like to meet at another time please call or email and I will arrange a time more convenient for you.

Contact Edgewater Mayor Bonnie Mc-Nulty 303-233-6216 or [email protected].

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Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

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Learning to Let Your Kids FailBy Guy Nahmiach

It hurts me just to write the title of this column!

There comes a time in your life as parent, where you need to let your child fall and get back up on their own. Whether it's at soccer practice or on their math homework.

But how wrong is it to protect their innocence a little longer? I can hear the old-school thinkers out there saying, "How are they supposed to learn?" "That's how they get tough!" and other wonderful life lessons my dad would share over long-distance Sunday calls.

Many would argue that it's much harder to be a kid today. The Internet has created an entire world for kids to explore, get lured by products and people with bad intentions, without their parents or teachers having a clue. It's altered their means of communication into single-syllable words that have replaced entire sentences. Texting and emails have reduced their ability to have a meaningful face-to-face conversation.

Teen suicide attempts keep climbing. Socioeconomic situations are keeping parents away from home for longer stretches every day. Even schools are made to accommodate such situations: Pennington Elementary has requested a 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. schedule, taking care of kids for 12 hours and providing three meals a day.

I want to make every moment with my child count and have as many of those moments as possible.

My favorite sixth grade teacher – well actually she was Danielle and Dylan's but we all learned from her – is Ms. Rutledge. She asked me once if I was a helicopter parent. I always seemed to be around. The funny thing is that by grade six Danielle didn't even want to wait for the car to stop before running off to her class. That’s contrary to Dylan, who I would stand in line with along with his friend Grant (who by the way with Basil was absolutely amazing at the Everitt Talent Show last week).

Rutledge incidentally is moving on from Prospect Valley to be a coordinator at Outdoor Lab. Talk about a dream job. If you've ever had any doubts about the use of this incredible outdoor learning experience, just spent 10 minutes with her. They couldn't

have picked a better ambassador. Also at PV, Cara Jakob, this year's PTA

President, has been hired as the school's Parent/Community Liaison. Tasked with generating more parent participation and

providing helpful resources to families in need, this is another example of Jeffco hiring the best possible person from within the community.

With regular updates, Mike Collins, Principal at PV, has been doing a great job keeping parents informed of staff changes this year.

Just down the street, Kullerstrand has also hired someone as parent liaison –

welcome Sean Burnham, who will begin this coming school year.

Looming over us of course is still the teachers’ union negotiation with the board regarding raises and new contracts. Agreement was achieved over teachers evaluated as "not effective" not eligible for a raise, although the sticking issue is in regards the "partially effective" status. The case is in court right now. Though it does make me think that as consumers we are entitled to know if a lawyer or doctor has been sued or his license suspended. Should parents have the right to know if the teacher providing an entire grade's worth of education is an effective one?

As we close out the year the enrollment numbers are starting to surface. Next month I'll be looking into trends across our articulation area. Interesting data is showing growing numbers over at Drake. For the first time, no wait list at Manning. Prospect Valley will be losing many advanced learners who are opting to finish the sixth grade over at Bell. The STEM program has pulled students from all over. Naturally trend has many variables, and will likely cause tremors up the education chain here in Wheat Ridge, from Everitt and further down to Wheat Ridge High. Have you made a similar choice for your student? I'd love to hear you reasons. Please call or email me with your story.

Enjoy the last few weeks. If you have decided to join Everitt next year, PTA positions need to be filled. If ever you were going to get involved, now is the time.

As always, thanks for reading.Contact Guy Nahmiach at 303-999-

5789 or [email protected].

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THEY CAN WALK MILES AND MILES In April, Compass Montesori grade-school students (left to right) Bryan, Michael, Cade, Kayla, Michael and Erin reached a milestone of walking a total of 126-miles. Starting in the fall of 2014 the group began making the morning trek together to school, as part of the “Walking School Bus.” Every walk has at least two parents in tow. PHOTO: CYNDY BEAL


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The new Starbucks, complete with drive-through, opened their new store on the southwest corner of 38th Avenue and Kipling St. the beginning of May. This marks a return of a Starbucks to the corner.

Mighty Joe’s Kitchen at 10160 W. 50th Ave., opened in April. The restaurant describes themselves as serving authentic homemade Italian cuisine is open six days a week. For more information and hours go to http://www.mightyjoeskitchen.com, or call 303-425-4200.

Pierogies Factory at 3895 Wadsworth Blvd. opened in April. The restaurant describes themselves as a casual restaurant serving Polish pierogis is open seven days a week. For more information and hours go to http://www.pierogiesfactory.com or call 303-425-7421.

Grizzly Creek Framing has moved

from Arvada into Wheat Ridge. They are a custom framing shop. They are located at 4910 Iris St., next to Brunswick Lanes. For more information go to http://grizzlycreekframing.com or call 303-425-9653.

Devion Gaddy has joined Fido’s Grub-n-Tub Grooming Salon, 8883 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge. Gaddy has 18 years of grooming experience and has groomed in Florida, California and Colorado, most recently at Kriser's in Englewood.

“He has a very gentle approach and is excited to work in a cage-free salon where the emphasis is on providing safe, stress-free grooms for all sizes and ages of dogs,” said Prudence Schultz-Burrey of Fido’s.

To celebrate Gaddy’s joining the salon, Fido’s is off ering 10 percent off grooming for all new customers. Current clients may participate in a Frequent Groomer program that rewards regular grooming with a free groom. For more information, call 303-463-3302 or visit www.fi dosgrubntub.com.

For questions or comments about this

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missed, email [email protected]

MEDICALLY SPEAKINGStroke – Faster Treatment Can

Lead to Faster RecoveryBy Dr. Russell Bartt

When the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off , that area stops working

and the person experiences a stroke. Stroke is a medical emergency that aff ects nearly 800,000 people in the United States and is the No. 1 cause of disability. Unfortunately, even with this high rate of occurrence, 37 percent of all Americans cannot correctly identify one warning sign of a stroke.

Would you be able to recognize the warning signs of stroke if you saw them? They can be easy to spot by remembering the word F.A.S.T.

F: Face - Look at the person’s face to see if one side is drooping.

A: Arms - Ask the person to hold their arms up in front of their body and look for drifting down in one arm.

S: Speech - If someone is having a stroke they often have trouble with word-fi nding or their speech is slurred.

T: Time - If you think someone is having a stroke call 911 and get help.

The faster someone gets to the hospital, the more likely they are to be candidate for treatment that can help reverse the symptoms of a stroke. At Joint Commission

accredited stroke centers, like Lutheran Medical Center, there are detailed processes in place to streamline treatment of stroke patients.

With the understanding that millions of neurons in the brain are destroyed every minute during an acute stroke, these centers

are especially equipped to treat a stroke quickly and safely. The faster a stroke patient gets the medication they need, the better the outcome.

Risk factors for stroke can be split into two groups. Modifi able factors are those you have control over, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, inactivity, diet, drug/alcohol abuse, heart disease, and high cholesterol.

Non-modifi able risk factors are those you don’t control, such as age, family history, race, gender, and prior stroke or heart attack. Talk with your doctor to fi nd out how you can manage or minimize your risk for stroke.

Remember the acronym F.A.S.T.: Face, Arms, Speech, and Time. If you think you or someone you know is experiencing stroke symptoms, call 911 and get help FAST!

Dr. Russell Bartt is a neurologist with Lutheran Medical Center and Blue Sky Neurology.

Dr. Russell Bartt

New BusinessContinued from page 1


Task Force Seeking Solutions for Discovery Park

By Guy Nahmiach

The newly formed Discovery Park Task Force met on April 30; District III

Council Members George Pond and Tim Fitzgerald, Mayor Joyce Jay, Police Chief Dan Brennan, Wheat Ridge Parks & Rec staff and commissioners, as well as some concerned citizens attended and discussed the growing incidents of graffi ti, smoking, vandalism, profanity and verbal abuse of park users.

Last month I wrote about the increased complaints from neighbors and parents who no longer took their kids to the park. The complaints had made their way to city council and the mayor.

I decided to go and spend a few hours at Discovery. I spoke with a mother watching her children on their scooters. She told me that besides the constant smoking (tobacco and marijuana), what upsets her most was really the "huge amounts of profanity" that children were "exposed to in the park on a daily basis.” I asked another parent if he thought shutting down the skate park would solve the problem. He was adamant that this would only punish his son and his friends that used their scooters in the park every day.

In speaking with a few kids at the gazebo I learned that a large number of them don't even live in Wheat Ridge or attend one of our schools. They travel by car or bus from Lakewood, Golden and Denver Northwest. They spoke about the presence of gang

members and drugs in Discovery Park. It dawned on me that these kids (16-

17) hadn't broken any laws. Smoking is not against the law and neither is profanity. Smoking pot in public is illegal, but without any law enforcement present, there's not much that can be done.

The task force discussed the many issues revolving around Discovery Park and agreed to invite the community into the conversation and process.

A meeting has been called for June 9, 7 p.m., at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center. Neighbors, park users, high school students, hipsters, boring dads, politicians and city staff – everyone and anyone who cares about the park – should attend.

Wheat Ridge Opens its Newest Park

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held May 2 to open Hopper Hollow, Wheat Ridge’s newest park. A citywide contest produced the name, which will be just as meaningful in 50 years as it is today.

Located at Kendall Street and 44th Avenue, the small neighborhood park residents features a playground, basketball practice court and grass for simply relaxing, within walking and biking distance for locals.

Guy Nahmiach is the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Commission Chair-man and District III Representative.

WHEAT RIDGE CITY COUNCILBeing Honest and Open to

Compromise on 38thBy George Pond

The upcoming discussions about the next steps on 38th Avenue present a

great opportunity to achieve a consensus on our vision and a compromise on how we implement it. I am ready for that, and I think others are, too. So, before we get to work, I have been refl ecting on where we have been, and more importantly how we might frame some of the decisions ahead of us.

There is a lot of good work behind us, and we face a renewed discussion. We have been thinking, talking about, designing, implementing, and voting for or against issues related to 38th Avenue for more than 10 years. Along the way the entire community has been invited to participate and yet it is important to acknowledge that from time to time during this long engagement there has not been consensus, and in fact at times there has been considerable disagreement.

And now as we pick this up again, we are pressed with a lot of questions: What is the cost? Why reduced traffi c lanes? Is the street going to be returned to what it was before? Didn’t anyone get my suggestion?

There have been several comments and requests from both sides of the debate asking for answers and dialog. I don’t think that we should ignore these requests, however, I think that it is important to get to some foundational questions fi rst, and then

let’s all be honest about our answers. I think some important questions are:

what do we want to accomplish at and on the corridor? How do we want the street to perform? What do we want it to feel like?

Now I realize that we may disagree on the answers to these questions, but I suspect that we have more consensus than dissent.

Where we can make progress is being open to compromise as we fi gure out the answers to these questions, and how to implement a designed solution. If we say for instance that we want a section of this corridor to be inviting and accessible to pedestrians, we should be ready to accept improved sidewalks as part of the solution. We may also have to make a reasonable compromise about how much

space is absolutely necessary to accomplish our goals. Maybe it’s not always a 10-foot-wide sidewalk with a six-foot planting buff er. I may not get some of the things that I envisioned for the street, and that’s OK.

There has been a call for renewed civic engagement and collaboration. I personally want to answer that call, and I don’t think I am alone. I look forward to all sides of this issue rolling up their sleeves, setting aside recent disagreements and getting to work. In the end, 38th Avenue will be a better place.

George Pond is Wheat Ridge City Council Member of District III, and can be contacted at [email protected] or 303-880-8729.

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WHEAT RIDGE 2020 UPDATETLC Wheat Ridge Expands Through Neighbor Power

By Britta Fisher

Driving up and down every street of Wheat Ridge will teach you a lot about

the community. You can see some of the hidden gems and some of the hidden junk. With a 37-year career in law enforcement, all with the Wheat Ridge Police Department, Commander Wade Hammond has seen quite a bit.

“When I was a young officer in the 1970s and 1980s, I loved the east side of Wheat Ridge the most. It has nice homes, trees and classic neighborhoods,” said Hammond. “In 2008, I was driving around east Wheat Ridge and things just didn’t look as good as they used to.”

He went back to his office and ran statistical crime reports for the area. East Wheat Ridge, the area approximately between Harlan and Sheridan in the City of Wheat Ridge, had crime rates three times higher than comparable residential neighborhoods.

Hammond developed a community oriented policing project to help address the issues he had uncovered. The Wheat Ridge Police Department reached out to other city departments and outside partners like Wheat Ridge 2020 and LiveWell Wheat Ridge. “I had the first kernel of the idea and it grew and improved as great people came together,” said Hammond.

Community meetings were held in 2009 to capture the thoughts and ideas of the neighbors, and partners helped to address what was discussed. The police increased

patrols to the area and sent bike patrol officers to add extra support in the summer. Community Service Officers reached out to residents with properties adjacent to alleys and Wheat Ridge 2020 coordinated dumpsters to be dropped off for Clean Up Days.

City departments responded to neighborhood issues and Wheat Ridge

2020 helped sponsor neighborhood block parties. Within two years, east Wheat Ridge had its crime rate to those of comparable neighborhoods.

Based on the success of the east Wheat Ridge program, the City of Wheat Ridge and the City Council have expanded the program and have named it TLC Wheat Ridge – Traffic safety, Life quality and Crime

reduction.The program is being offered in the

Clearvale neighborhood, which is Brentwood Street west to Garrison Street and West 44th Avenue to I-70 Frontage Road, and the Clear Creek Station neighborhood, which is Harlan Street west to Pierce Street and 44th Avenue north to West 48th Avenue.

All involved have high hopes for more great results powered by neighbors coming together to help find solutions.

“At the sunset of my career it is great to be able to say I was a part of something that will last in the community and make it healthier,” said Hammond.

For questions or comments about this story, email [email protected]

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URBAN PERSPECTIVESummer Festival Season Begins!

By Zachary Urban

Now that the rain has finally stopped, the summer festival season is just around

the corner. The Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival is shaping up to be another great time with festivities kicking off on Aug. 14 through 16.

The 46th Carnation Festival Parade will take place on Saturday, Aug. 15 from 9:30 to approximately 11:30 a.m. As part of the tradition and history of the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival, the selection committee once again is seeking nominations for the 2015 Parade Royalty. Parade Royalty is made up of three deserving members of the community who have demonstrated a commitment to make Wheat Ridge the best place to live, work and play. Please send your nominations to Steve Keller [email protected].

If you just can’t wait till August to get your festival fix, the Saints Peter and Paul Parish at 39th and Pierce Street has just the ticket for you. On June 26, 27 and 28 the parish will be hosting a community festival. This annual festival has proven to be a great time for the whole community to come together. This is one of the most kid-friendly festivals in the area. There will be plenty of fun for the whole family. There will be plenty of choices of food, beer, wine, and soda. There will be rides for the kids, games of chance for the adults including bingo, a $2,000 cash raffle, and other fun games. There will be a car show with a variety of trucks, cars and motorcycles. The festival

is free to attend, the fun will begin each night at 5 p.m. at the Saints Peter and Paul Parish parking lot at 3900 Pierce St. I am really hoping you can make it down to the festival to meet your neighbors and enjoy a good time. You can learn more information about the festival as the date comes closer by visiting www.facebook.com/SSPPfestival. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for this festival, there are still sponsorship slots

available. If you are interested in a

unique festival opportunity, consider attending the Jeffco Open Space Wildflower Festival on June 14. This festival will be held at the Lookout Mountain Nature Center and Preserve. Come out to help celebrate the incredible diversity and importance of native wildflowers through fun activities for the

whole family. Explore stations on wildflowers and pollinators, learn to identify invasive weeds, listen to a plant story, enjoy a wildflower hike, and browse the native plants available for sale. Kids can make crafts and watch a puppet show. For more information about and directions to Lookout Mountain Nature Center visit their webpage at lmnc.jeffco.us.

If a bicycle festival is more your speed, don’t forget to attend the Ridge at 38 Criterium June 7. The Ridge at 38 Criterium is a USA Cycling-Sanctioned race in the Rocky Mountain Road Cup race series. There will be plenty of family friendly festivities all along 38th Avenue following the race.

Zachary Urban can be reached at 720-252-5930 or www.zacharyurban.com.

Zach UrbanWade Hammond


HOME, GARDEN & LIFESTYLEBlankets and Baskets: Old Fashioned Picnics

By Jeanne Nichols

Has fast food taken the place of the all American picnic? I guess I may

be showing my age when I talk about picnicking. I’m not sure many of this new generation has experienced a true picnic.

In our vintage finds we often run across the infamous picnic basket or even little picnic sets that snap and strap all the picnic paraphernalia together. We recently received a gift of a backpack/duffel bag on wheels with all the utensils in it for a picnic. I’m beginning to think maybe the picnic basket has gone the way of luggage that one has to carry rather than rolling.

I suppose everyone has a different idea of what a picnic entails, but here are a few things I think are necessary to have an “old-fashioned” picnic:

The best picnics are done under a huge shade tree, on a family blanket, on the ground. It’s always a treat to be looking at something picturesque although sitting on the ground gives one a totally different perspective of any view.

What about the food? Well, many of my early picnic memories involved cold fried chicken (not sure if it was “cold” but it definitely wasn’t hot by the time we got there). Of course peanut butter and jelly and other varieties of the basic sandwich, macaroni salad, etc. We brought our Melmac plates, plastic glasses and flatware from which to eat. These were not things that were tossed, but were loaded back up when ready to leave.

Lemonade or iced tea was the drink of the day. We would make it a bit strong so that as the ice melted it would water it down and cool it off. And this is where the use of those large wide-mouth Thermos bottles came in. Dessert? Well, it was usually watermelon or wonderful home made cookies.

One thing I remember particularly was when we left the picnic area there wasn’t any trash. It all went back into the containers (maybe Tupperware, maybe not) and packed into the picnic basket (a large woven carrier) to be cleaned up at home.

Nowadays with picnic tables, barbecue grills and local fast foods close to most parks I guess the outing I described above sounds pretty old fashioned.

I have so many fond memories of these times with my grandparents, no phones, no texting, just laying together on the blanket guessing the shape of the clouds and maybe even taking a quick nap that I think I should introduce the grandkids to this great little adventure. The month of May could just be the right time for an old-fashioned picnic.

Wheat Ridge resident Jeanne Nichols is the owner and Lead Designer/Home Stylist at modmood/RETRO Consignment at 44th and Wadsworth. She can be reached at [email protected] or 303-728-9497.

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Gardens and Volunteers Wanted for Wheat Ridge Garden Tour, July 11

If you want to showcase your garden on this year’s Wheat Ridge Garden Tour, scheduled for Saturday, July 11,

contact Milly Nadler at 303-319-0690 or [email protected].

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Passport to Health a Ticket to Senior Fun, Fitness

Colorado Senior Connections Wheat Ridge and Edgewater invites Seniors 60 and up to make this summer the healthiest ever through Passport to Health. Seniors sign up and receive a free water bottle and Passport card information on suggested activities. At the end of the summer (Sept. 3), participants are invited to an afternoon Summer Passport to Health Finale Dance Party, featuring music from the ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s at the Richard Hart Estate, 28th Avenue and Ames Street.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

STUDENTS REVIVE THE GREENBELT: Wheat Ridge High School Career Exploration Classes spent April 17 and 24 on the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt building new tree protec-tion from wildlife, planting trees, pulling weeds, planting seeds and flowers and digging fence post holes, alongside Parks & Rec staff and IES. Pietras Pizzeria and Italian Restau-rant provided lunch following the work. PHOTO: JERRY DITULLIO

“Basically we want as many seniors as possible to register, get a free water bottle and go out and be active and fun this summer,” said Alison Joucovsky of Colorado Senior Connections Wheat Ridge and Edgewater. “We will have a list of ideas of activities and lots of walks – walk with a Do, walk with a cop, history walk at Crown Hill, nature walks with your grand kids – to support a healthy active summer.”

Seniors can register and pick up their water bottle and card at the Wheat Ridge Municipal Building, 7500 W. 29th Ave.; Seniors Resource Center, 3227 Chase St.;

Continued on page 11


greatly appreciated.To volunteer or for more information,

contact Mariann Stork, [email protected].

Summer Art Clubs for Kids at Teller Street

Teller Street Gallery and Studios will be offering summer art activities for children at its Wheat Ridge digs, 7190 W. 38th Ave.

Tweens and Teens teaches various techniques with different projects and instructors every week on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons in June and July. Small class sizes allow individual attention. Projects include oil painting, charcoal sketching, watercolor painting, mosaic tile art, bookmaking, wire sculpture and acrylic painting.

Classes are priced individually and six-class discount punch cards are available. Projects are designed to be completed in one class. Ages 9 and up.

For more information, call 303-424 9273 or visit www.tellerstreetgallery.com

Book Club Kits Now Available at Your Library

Jefferson County residents can check out book-club kits for up to six weeks from the Jefferson County Public Library, at

no cost. Each kit includes up to 10 copies of a popular book and a guide to facilitate discussion. Seventy different book titles are available, including such popular book-club titles as:

• “All the Light We Cannot See,” by Anthony Doerr

• “The Arsonist,” by Sue Miller• “The Fault in Our Stars,” by John

Green• “The Goldfinch,” by Donna Tartt• “Unbroken: a World War II Story of

Survival,” by Laura Hillenbrand“These kits are great for members of

existing book clubs who don’t want to have to purchase books, or for start-up clubs who want to see what book clubs are all about,” said Pam Nissler, JCPL executive director. “Summer is a great time to kick back, read and visit with friends, and we hope these kits will help to facilitate that.”

The kits are being made available through the Jefferson County Library Foundation.

Kits can be placed on hold and sent to any location to be held for pick-up.

Residents can check out a book-club kit by accessing the library’s online cata-log at Jeffcolibrary.org and doing a word search for “book club kits.”

WHAT’S HAPPENING

WHEAT RIDGE RESIDENTS HEIDI DO-NAT (left) and Caroline Mallory were hon-ored, along with Wheat Ridge Active Adult Center’s Lois Eaton (right), at the Jefferson County Volunteer Connection luncheon, April 16 at the Lakewood Cultural Center. Held annually during National Volunteer week, the event honors Jefferson County residents who volunteer at a variety of Jefferson County organizations. For more information, visit www.volunteerjeffco.org. PHOTO: SHELLY PINKERNELL

Edgewater Municipal Building, 5901 W. 25th Ave.; or any local Colorado Senior Connection community office.

The program is sponsored by the City of Wheat Ridge and City of Edgewater.

For more information, visit www.Edge-waterSeniors.org or www.WheatRidgeSe-niors.org, or call 720-763-3042.

Rockies Baseball Skills Challenge at Panorama Park June 3

Kids 6-13 can compete in throwing, hitting and running bases, in separate girls’ and boys’ divisions in the Rockies Baseball Skills Challenge at Panorama Park, W. 35th Avenue and Fenton Street, June 5, starting at 9 a.m.

Winners qualify for a chance to compete in a regional and then a state championship and get to attend a Colorado Rockies game. The free event is sponsored by the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department and the Colorado Rockies.

Sign up by Wednesday, June 3. Forms are available at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center or by email.

For more information, contact Rob-in Lofton at 303-231-1312 or [email protected].

Your Two Cents Wanted on August RTD Changes

RTD will hold public meetings in May and June to inform the public of the proposed changes and obtain input that will be summarized and reported to the RTD Board of Directors.

Attendance at public meetings is not required to comment, and you may fax your comments to 303-299-2227 or email to [email protected] no later than June 4. The nearest public meeting will be held in Lakewood at the Clement Center, 1580 Yarrow St., Wednesday, June 3 at 6 p.m.

For more information, visit www.rtd-denver.com.

Open House, Swap Meet Coming Up at American Legion

Find out what the American Legion is and what they do when American Legion Post 17 holds an open house, Saturday, June 20, noon to 4 p.m., at 1901 Harlan St., Edgewater.

There’ll be a chance to sell stuff you don’t need anymore to people who don’t have enough when the Post hosts a Swap Meet, Saturday, June 6. Booth space is $10; reserve yours now, as booths are first-come, first-served.

If you’re looking for a local venue for your next social event, the Legion does rent out its hall, which features: capacity for 125, a stage, dimmable lights, projection screens and plenty of parking. Catering and linen rental is also available.

For more information, email Lynn Cody at 303-238-2401 or [email protected].

Wheat Ridge Garden Tour Needs Gardens and Volunteers, July 11

Is the focal point of your garden a stunning perennial, annual or xeriscape garden? Does your yard feature a winding pathway, water feature, gazebo, outdoor room, sculpture or other unique architectural feature? If you want to showcase your garden on this year’s Wheat Ridge Garden Tour, scheduled for Saturday, July 11, contact Milly Nadler at 303-319-0690 or [email protected]. Recommend your neighbor’s garden and, if it’s on the tour, you’ll receive a free ticket. Volunteers are needed to check tickets at the homes on the tour. All help is

Submit items to the “What’s Happening” section at [email protected]

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7700 West 44th Avenue 303.728.9497www.modmood.com

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APPLEWOOD BARBER SHOP

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Large carpeted waiting area full of comfortable seating, great books, toys,

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Includes a razor shave around the ears & neck for men.

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7220 West 38th Avenue · Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80033

Peter Damian Arguello303.463.5335

[email protected]

www.PeterDamianJewelry.com

7220 West 38th AvenueWheat Ridge, Colorado 80033


[email protected]



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Peter Damian Arguello 303.463.5335

[email protected]

7220 West 38th Avenue · Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80033


[email protected]




[email protected]



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Peter Damian • 303-463-53357220 West 38th Avenue

Tiffany & Eli Lucero720-789-1880

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Want to be Part of the Car Scene?By Tom Schmuke

It’s spring and the start of car shows and cruises for antique or customized

automobiles. It’s the time enthusiasts get to enjoy their hobby and show off their hard work and prized possession. Ogling the chrome wheels, sparkling fi nishes and rumbling engines, you might ask yourself what’s involved in being part of the scene. You may have a particular car in mind, but what’s next?

If you are thinking about becoming part of the world of restoring or building Hot Rods, here are some pointers from carsdirect.com that will help you decide what direction to take:

• Assess the car. Have you bought an old rust bucket or an accident-damaged car? Perhaps it is in good running order but the bodywork has been better days. Maybe you bought a vehicle that had been off the road for a long time and needs minimal restoration. The amount of work the car needs will determine the scope of the project in time and money.

• Decide on authenticity. You have a list of the parts you need for your project car restoration. How much you spend will depend upon whether you are a stickler for original or brand parts or whether you feel you can compromise on certain areas of your project. Decide which parts must be brand name or original, and which parts you can buy at a lower price.

• Do it yourself. Do-it-yourself projects depend on your skills. If you are not a trained mechanic, you might have problems diagnosing and fi xing some things. Doing it yourself can save money, but if you need a professional to fi x your mistakes that will cost more than going to the pro in the fi rst place. If you know that

at some point you will need to engage the services of a professional, include the cost in your budget.

• Determine your budget. Take an inventory of everything that needs to be done. Take auto parts, accessories, paints, tires, wheels, panels and doors, professional help and what each of them costs into account. When you fi nish assessing, you will have arrived at a budget fi gure. Take that fi nal fi gure and add 30 percent.

• Plan your work schedule. Does the project car need to be dismantled? If so, work from the bottom up. Remove the parts that need replacing and restoring. Catalogue them as you go, so you know where each piece goes. Allow enough time for each step, so you are not rushed to completion.

• Ask for help. If you have never undertaken such a project before, ask an expert for help. Visit restoration forums on the Internet or join online project car clubs and get advice from other project car lovers who have been right where you are now.

Got a car care question? Email Tom Schmuke at [email protected].

CAR TALK WITH TOM

TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

Father’s Day Buffet featuring Prime Rib Carving Station

Adults- $25.95 Children under 11 $9.95

Joni Janak Jazz May 27, June 10 & 24

Robbie Pepper on guitar May 22nd

4990 Kipling Street #1(303) 422-3300

www.lukesasteakplace.com

SPECIAL!Mondays & Tuesdays only

3 course dinner & a bottle of wine for 2 for $59.95

Exp. 6/15/15

UP

CO

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TSIS YOUR RIDE SHOW READY? Spring is the beginning of the antique and cus-tomized show season. A few tips will help newcomers show off their hard work and prized possessions.

Neighborhood Gazette - May 2015

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