12
Of Summer Camps and Cinnamon Rolls see page 6 Town Hall Meeting In Brief see page 11 OREO THE GOAT SAYS CHEESE for the camera at Five Fridges Farm in Wheat Ridge. On April 30, Clear Creek Organics and Five Fridges Farm will join other local producers and suppliers at the Wheat Ridge Local Food Festival at the Mountain Phoenix School from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. See What’s Happening on page 10 for further details regarding the festival. PHOTO BY CYNDY BEAL. \STUDENT ARTISTS DISPLAY THEIR ART- FUL SHOES at the Arvada Center Main Gal- lery through May 11. PHOTO BY CYNDY BEAL. Gazette NEIGHBORHOOD te e e e e e e e te te e e e e e e e e e e e Wheat Ridge | Edgewater | APRIL 18 – MAY 15, 2014 Farmers Grow In Community see page 4 Wheat Ridge Fire Protection Special District Election May 6 By J. Patrick O’Leary W heat Ridge Fire Protection District will be asking voters to increase its mill levy from 7.5 to 12.5 mills, as well as to elect three board members, in its May 6 regular special district election. The increase is expected to raise $1,663,296 in 2015, and pay for general operating and capital expenses, including replacing older fire apparatus, renovating and constructing buildings, and the personnel costs necessary to continue the current level of service. WRFPD’s board of directors voted 5-0 to ask taxpayers for the 5 mill increase at its Feb. 19 session. The board had discussed, in at least three meetings, the findings of a Blue Ribbon Panel report on challenges facing the district, released at the board’s Jan. 15 meeting. The increase may be a hard-sell for Edgewater voters, who in November 2012 voted to dissolve their nearly 100-year-old volunteer fire department and be included in the WRFPD, as well as raise their property tax from 5.03 to 7.5 mills. “A lot of Edgewater people were stunned,” said Karen Hing, a member of the Blue Ribbon Panel who also spearheaded the 2012 inclusion campaign. “We spent years assessing Edgewater’s ability to sustain its fire department … we were assured by Wheat Ridge [Fire Protection District] that they could take this on, and that the mill levy was adequate.” Upon former Chief Steve Gillespie’s departure, she said everyone discovered “this isn’t going to work.” Voters increased WRFPD’s property tax rate to 7.5 mills in 2010, to help fund a combination paid/volunteer staffing model, as well replace fire equipment. With the help of a Staffing Adequate Firefighters for Emergency Response (SAFER) grant, eight lieutenants and nine engineers were hired. However, the grant expired in May 2013 and current revenue is not adequate to fund the positions, according to the report, much less provide a competitive compensation package to firefighters (to keep them from moving on to higher-paying departments) and provide adequate service without relying on agreements with surrounding fire departments. “Response time went from 10:42 to 4:04, with paid staff and third station in Edgewater,” said current Fire Chief Robert Olme of the benefit realized. “Unfortunately, the staffing model outran the (resources) even with 2010 mill levy,” said Olme. “So any monies anticipated for capital were shifted to people to maintain the number of people in each apparatus.” Also, the additional revenue from Edgewater should have paid the entire cost of expanding coverage to that city. However, the $325,000 raised in 2013 fell $164,000 short of the $489,852 of actual expenses, according to the report. That’s just operating expenses. As part of the WRFPD’s agreement with Edgewater, it must build a new fire station in that city by the end of 2017, estimated to cost $1.2 million. On top of that future capital outlay, the district’s aging fleet of vehicles must be replaced, at a cost of $2.4 million over the next five years. Although WRFPD had applied for new SAFER and other grants to help fund short-term staffing and vehicle replacement needs, the report cautioned that additional revenue must be raised in the long term. Fire Chief Robert Olme said WRFPD recently learned the SAFER grant was denied. “We’ve not heard anything back on equipment grant,” he added. “It’s very tight this year. No capital expenditures are planned. We’ve frozen salaries and hiring.” The report had recommend a 4- to 4.5- By Cyndy Beal S ometimes a sneaker is more than just a shoe. Sometimes a shoe can be a work of art. Wheat Ridge High School’s (WRHS) Fresh 23 class, 22 advanced painting students and one video student, has once more submitted four pairs of their customized, painted sneaker creations to Vans Custom Culture art competition. Each pair of white shoes is customized with one of four themes: action sports (boards and bicycles) music, art and local flavor. Starting on April 25, after judging, the top 50 schools (10 from five regions) then move to peoples’ choice; to cast a vote for WRHS in the southwest region go to http://sites.vans. com/customculture. WRHS art teacher Frank Scaglione said he is confident that their sneakers will make it to the top 50, as they have every year since the contest’s inception in 2009. The idea of art students painting Vans shoes started with a conversation between Scaglione and friend Shawn Gruenhagen. Gruenhagen, a Vans’ shoe representative, had too many extra shoes on his hands, many mismatched pairs. Later a video of the students and their customized shoes was sent to Vans and the company liked the idea and started their custom culture contest, based on the WRHS video. Over the last five years, the contest has grown from 100 to 2,000 schools nationwide competing to become one of the five finalists who fly to New York City. One school from the five finalists is selected to win the grand prize of $50,000 for the schools art program. So far WRHS has not made it to the final five portion of the contest. “This is the year,” said Scaglione of Fresh 23 winning the top five and maybe the grand prize. When Scaglione was asked what the art program would do with $50,000, he was not sure, but they would definitely do a large art project and “would honor the whole 23 family, including alumni,” he said. The 2014 theme is “Across America,” which includes four collections: Bred to Shred, Colour Theory 101, You Wild Colorado, and Jazz Hand. Each shoe represents one of 22 U.S. cities. On April 12 Fresh 23 held their annual spring performance, set to music to a near standing-room-only crowd in the WRHS auditorium. The performance and following showcase featured the 22 pieces of student sneaker art, and cumulated in a video. Later in April the public can get another close look at the WRHS art creations at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Boulevard. Opening reception for the 43rd Annual Jeffco Schools Foundation High School Art Exhibition is April 21 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The district-wide exhibition includes an awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m. Wheat Ridge Art Students Kick It With Painted Shoes Continued on page 2 2014 Kite Flite Festival Anderson Park • 4355 Field St. Saturday, April 26 • 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All activities take place on the soccer field and open fields near the pavilion. First-come, first-served parking is free. 10 a.m. Registration at Welcome/Registration booth. 10:30 a.m. Kite Crafting Competition 11 a.m. Midway opens, judges announce Kite Crafting Competition prizes. 11 a.m. Kite giveway tickets available at Welcome booth; drawings held every 30 minutes, starting at 11:30 a.m. 11 a.m.-noon Toddler Kite Fly, south field near playground. 11 a.m.-noon Non-wind parachute kite relay race, ages 10-14. 11:30 a.m. Fifteen-minute kite flying lesson by Adam, south field. Noon Art students from Wheat Ridge 5-8 display winning kites. Noon-1 p.m. Parachute kite relay race, ages 15+ (second round). 12:30 p.m. Fifteen-minute kite flying lesson by Adam, south field. 1-1:30 p.m. Senior Kite Flite, ages 50+, north field. 2:30 p.m. Fifteen-minute kite flying lesson by Adam, north field. 3 p.m. Mass kite ascent. All day Kids’ crafts in the pavilion: Build a wind sock, decorate a kite, make jewelry, paint a pot and plant a seed. The Kite Hospital will assemble any kite purchased at the Festival.

Neighborhood Gazette April 2014

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The April 18-May 15, 2014 issue of Neighborhood Gazette, serving Wheat Ridge and Edgewater, Colorado.

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Page 1: Neighborhood Gazette April 2014

Of Summer Camps and

Cinnamon Rollssee page 6

Town Hall Meeting In Brief

see page 11

OREO THE GOAT SAYS CHEESE for the camera at Five Fridges Farm in Wheat Ridge. On April 30, Clear Creek Organics and Five Fridges Farm will join other local producers and suppliers at the Wheat Ridge Local Food Festival at the Mountain Phoenix School from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. See What’s Happening on page 10 for further details regarding the festival. PHOTO BY CYNDY BEAL.

\STUDENT ARTISTS DISPLAY THEIR ART-FUL SHOES at the Arvada Center Main Gal-lery through May 11. PHOTO BY CYNDY BEAL.

GazetteNEIGHBORHOODGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteGazetteWheat Ridge | Edgewater | APRIL 18 – MAY 15, 2014

FarmersGrow In

Communitysee page 4

Wheat Ridge Fire Protection Special District Election May 6

By J. Patrick O’Leary

Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District will be asking voters to increase its

mill levy from 7.5 to 12.5 mills, as well as to elect three board members, in its May 6 regular special district election. The increase is expected to raise $1,663,296 in 2015, and pay for general operating and capital expenses, including replacing older fi re apparatus, renovating and constructing buildings, and the personnel costs necessary to continue the current level of service. WRFPD’s board of directors voted 5-0 to ask taxpayers for the 5 mill increase at its Feb. 19 session. The board had discussed, in at least three meetings, the fi ndings of a Blue Ribbon Panel report on challenges facing the district, released at the board’s Jan. 15 meeting. The increase may be a hard-sell for Edgewater voters, who in November 2012 voted to dissolve their nearly 100-year-old volunteer fi re department and be included in the WRFPD, as well as raise their property tax from 5.03 to 7.5 mills. “A lot of Edgewater people were stunned,” said Karen Hing, a member of the Blue Ribbon Panel who also spearheaded the 2012 inclusion campaign. “We spent years assessing Edgewater’s ability to sustain its fi re department … we were assured by Wheat Ridge [Fire Protection District] that they could take this on, and that the mill levy was adequate.” Upon former Chief Steve Gillespie’s departure, she said everyone discovered “this isn’t going to work.” Voters increased WRFPD’s property tax rate to 7.5 mills in 2010, to help fund a combination paid/volunteer staffi ng model, as well replace fi re equipment. With the help of a Staffi ng Adequate Firefi ghters for Emergency Response (SAFER) grant, eight lieutenants and nine engineers were hired. However, the grant expired in May 2013

and current revenue is not adequate to fund the positions, according to the report, much less provide a competitive compensation package to fi refi ghters (to keep them from moving on to higher-paying departments) and provide adequate service without relying on agreements with surrounding fi re departments. “Response time went from 10:42 to 4:04, with paid staff and third station in Edgewater,” said current Fire Chief Robert Olme of the benefi t realized. “Unfortunately, the staffi ng model outran the (resources) even with 2010 mill levy,” said Olme. “So any monies anticipated for capital were shifted to people to maintain the number of people in each apparatus.” Also, the additional revenue from Edgewater should have paid the entire cost of expanding coverage to that city. However, the $325,000 raised in 2013 fell $164,000 short of the $489,852 of actual expenses, according to the report. That’s just operating expenses. As part of the WRFPD’s agreement with Edgewater, it must build a new fi re station in that city by the end of 2017, estimated to cost $1.2 million. On top of that future capital outlay, the district’s aging fl eet of vehicles must be replaced, at a cost of $2.4 million over the next fi ve years. Although WRFPD had applied for new SAFER and other grants to help fund short-term staffi ng and vehicle replacement needs, the report cautioned that additional revenue must be raised in the long term. Fire Chief Robert Olme said WRFPD recently learned the SAFER grant was denied. “We’ve not heard anything back on equipment grant,” he added. “It’s very tight this year. No capital expenditures are planned. We’ve frozen salaries and hiring.” The report had recommend a 4- to 4.5-

By Cyndy Beal

Sometimes a sneaker is more than just a shoe. Sometimes a shoe can be a work of

art. Wheat Ridge High School’s (WRHS) Fresh 23 class, 22 advanced painting students and one video student, has once more submitted four pairs of their customized, painted sneaker creations to Vans Custom Culture art competition. Each pair of white shoes is customized with one of four themes: action sports (boards and bicycles) music, art and local fl avor. Starting on April 25, after judging, the top 50 schools (10 from fi ve regions) then move to peoples’ choice; to cast a vote for WRHS in the southwest region go to http://sites.vans.com/customculture. WRHS art teacher Frank Scaglione said he is confi dent that their sneakers will make it to the top 50, as they have every year since the contest’s inception in 2009. The idea of art students painting Vans shoes started with a conversation between Scaglione and friend Shawn Gruenhagen. Gruenhagen, a Vans’ shoe representative,

had too many extra shoes on his hands, many mismatched pairs. Later a video of the students and their customized shoes was sent to Vans and the company liked the idea and started their custom culture contest, based on the WRHS video. Over the last fi ve years, the contest has grown from 100 to 2,000 schools nationwide competing to become one of the fi ve fi nalists who fl y to New York City. One school from the fi ve fi nalists is selected to win the grand prize of $50,000 for the schools art program. So far WRHS has not made it to the fi nal fi ve portion of the contest. “This is the year,” said Scaglione of Fresh 23 winning the top fi ve and maybe the grand prize. When Scaglione was asked what the art program would do with $50,000, he was not sure, but they would defi nitely do a large art project and “would honor the whole 23 family, including alumni,” he said. The 2014 theme is “Across America,” which includes four collections: Bred to Shred, Colour Theory 101, You Wild Colorado, and Jazz Hand. Each shoe represents one of 22 U.S. cities. On April 12 Fresh 23 held their annual spring performance, set to music to a near standing-room-only crowd in the WRHS auditorium. The performance and following showcase featured the 22 pieces of student sneaker art, and cumulated in a video. Later in April the public can get another close look at the WRHS art creations at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Boulevard. Opening reception for the 43rd Annual Jeffco Schools Foundation High School Art Exhibition is April 21 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The district-wide exhibition includes an awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m.

Wheat Ridge Art Students Kick It With Painted Shoes

Continued on page 2

2014 Kite Flite FestivalAnderson Park • 4355 Field St.

Saturday, April 26 • 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All activities take place on the soccer fi eld and open fi elds near the pavilion. First-come, fi rst-served parking is free.

10 a.m. Registration at Welcome/Registration booth.10:30 a.m. Kite Crafting Competition11 a.m. Midway opens, judges announce Kite Crafting Competition prizes.11 a.m. Kite giveway tickets available at Welcome booth; drawings held every 30 minutes, starting at 11:30 a.m.11 a.m.-noon Toddler Kite Fly, south fi eld near playground.11 a.m.-noon Non-wind parachute kite relay race, ages 10-14. 11:30 a.m. Fifteen-minute kite fl ying lesson by Adam, south fi eld.Noon Art students from Wheat Ridge 5-8 display winning kites.Noon-1 p.m. Parachute kite relay race, ages 15+ (second round).12:30 p.m. Fifteen-minute kite fl ying lesson by Adam, south fi eld.1-1:30 p.m. Senior Kite Flite, ages 50+, north fi eld. 2:30 p.m. Fifteen-minute kite fl ying lesson by Adam, north fi eld.3 p.m. Mass kite ascent.All day Kids’ crafts in the pavilion: Build a wind sock, decorate a kite, make jewelry, paint a pot and plant a seed. The Kite Hospital will assemble any kite purchased at the Festival.

Page 2: Neighborhood Gazette April 2014

2 neighborhood gazette – APRIL 18 – MAy 15, 2014 – ngazette.com

The spring sun is shining brightly somewhere in this issue, find it and

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and tell us where it is. We will draw a winner

out of the correct responses and send them a cool prize.

Good luck!

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Wheat ridge, Co 80033Publication date is the 15th of each month.

Advertising: Tim Berland 303-995-2806 or Vicki Ottoson 303-777-6144

Copy Editing/Proofreading: J. Patrick O’Leary, Cyndy Beal & Sarah DiTullio

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representations, claims or opinions by any advertising or article in this publication.

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loretta dituro1/12 H

w 29th ave1/12 H

mill increase, but no less than a 3.5 mill. Another option was to consider a merger with a larger fire district, such as West Metro (which currently assesses a 12.3 mills, plus 1.8 mills for bonds). If voters approve WRFPD’s 5-mill increase, it would result in an additional (approximate) $79 annual property tax increase on a $200,000 house. Not on the ballot, yet recommended by the report, is the development of a long-term financial plan for the district, and an organizational assessment. The financial plan is necessary to determine how much revenue is needed for short- and long-term services, develop reserve and investment policies, and finance the promised, new Edgewater fire station. The organizational assessment will assess the district’s structure and level of services, review the board of directors’ roles and responsibilities, help the board develop a vision for the future, conduct a compensation study to develop a new market-driven compensation plan, and re-examine creating a financial operations position. Those internal management issues will need to be addressed by the WRFPD board of directors. Three of its five seats are up for election. Of the five candidates, three are incumbents: First Vice President James R. Johnson, Secretary Robert “Kent” Johnson and Treasurer Ronald L. Benson. Kent Johnson and Benson were appointed to the board, and James Johnson’s four-year term will be expiring. Of the challengers, Monica I. Duran

placed third in a four-way race for a Wheat Ridge City Council District I seat in November. Leonard F. Ortiz ran for a WRFPD director position in 2010. The Neighborhood Gazette invited all candidates to provide a brief statement on why they are running for the position, and what they hope to accomplish, should they be elected. For their responses, see above. Ballots will be mailed to the approximately 27,000 eligible voters between April 14 and 21. Completed ballots can be dropped off at or mailed to the WRFPD Administrative Office, 3880 Upham St., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. The office will be open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, starting April 14, and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on the day of the election, May 6. New or replacement ballots can be obtained during those hours, as well. For election documents and information, contact election official Barbara Sferra at Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District, 303-403-5900, [email protected], 3880 Upham St., Wheat Ridge. Edgewater Mayor Bonnie McNulty has invited the five director candidates for coffee and conversation Saturday, April 19, 9:30-11 a.m., at the Edgewater Coffee Company, 5224 W. 25th Ave. All voters are welcome to attend, meet the candidates and discuss the ballot question. The Wheat Ridge Fire Fighters Association will host a town hall meeting to discuss the ballot question Wednesday, April 23, 6:30 p.m., at the Wheat Ridge Grange, 3130 Youngfield St., in Wheat Ridge. Election documents and a copy of the Blue Ribbon Panel Report can be found at www.wrfire.org.

The Neighborhood Gazette invited all candidates for the three open seats on

the Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District’s board of directors to provide a brief statement on why they are running for the position, and what they hope to accomplish, should they be elected on May 6. Here are their responses:

Ronald L. Benson

I am running as an incumbent for a four-year term on the Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District. I was asked to serve the remaining year of a term that began in May 2013. My wife and I have lived in Wheat Ridge for 16 years. I believe very strongly in providing an adequate tax base to allow the WRFPD firefighters to keep the citizens safe and to also keep themselves safe. I am in support of the WRFPD’s 5-mill levy election. The passing of this issue will enable the WRFPD to remain as a valued asset for all district residents.

Monica I. Duran

I am running for the Wheat Ridge Fire Protection Board because I believe in the fire fighters, their sacrifice and the community they serve. We have an opportunity to move forward with the lessons learned from the past. With strong leadership, dedicated firefighters and our community, we can build strong relationships with accountability and transparency. As an elected board member, I will always remember that I am here to serve the best interest of our fire department and community. At the heart of my campaign is the Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District motto: Doing the right things at the right times for the right reasons.

James R. Johnson

I’m a retired WRFD firefighter. I’m still interested in the helping this district maintain the excellent services the fire

Who’s Running for WRFPD’s Board of Directors?

department provides to the Wheat Ridge fire district. I hope to stay involved as this fire department as it has meant a lot to me for many years. If elected I would like to see this department move forward with good leadership and financing to support our fire personnel with the proper training and equipment that is necessary to provide fire and EMS services to the residents of this district.

Robert “Kent” Johnson

I am running for the board because I want to be involved in the fire department. I myself served on the Edgewater Fire Department for 23+ years and would like to be able to serve the community and be part of this department. I have experience with budgets and the way the department runs, and feel that my input is valuable. What do I want to accomplish? I think that the board in the last year has made great strides to change the way we do things … that and [to] be more transparent to the public and make this department the best one around. Thanks for your vote.

Leonard F. Ortiz

I am a candidate for change. Over the past five years the WRFPD has attempted to grow from an all-volunteer force to a semi-professional agency. The transition has not gone well. The board and the past chief did not use the 2010 tax increase as promised. Today, the district is asking for another increase in order to “catch up”. Unfortunately, the 2014 increase if passed will not save the district. It will be status quo or worse. If elected, I will ask for the resignations of the three board members who are responsible for the problems. I have asked prior and was denied. I will attempt “damage control” for two years and if the district is unsuccessful, I will ask for the merger to West Metro or Arvada FPD. This is about public safety for the best bang for the buck.... nothing else.

WRFPD ElectionContinued from page 1

Have a news tip or story idea? Send it to [email protected]

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Page 3: Neighborhood Gazette April 2014

ngazette.com – April 18 - MAY 15, 2014 – neighborhood gazette 3

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Page 4: Neighborhood Gazette April 2014

4 neighborhood gazette – APRIL 18 – MAy 15, 2014 – ngazette.com

pioneer1/24 H

sarah dubois1/24 H

THE WATER FLOWS AT CLEAR CREEK ORGANICS farm as Stephen Cochenour waters the plants in the green house. The Cochenour family is part of a growing group of small-scale farmers in the community. PHOTO BY CYNDY BEAL

Business showcaseFarmers Grow In Community

By Cyndy Beal

Wheat Ridge farmers are growing more food and are growing in numbers.

Stephen Cochenour, one of a farming family of three – including his wife Lauren and daughter Emma – are part of this growing group. Their farm, Clear Creek Organics, grows a variety of organic vegetables and flowers on an acre of land that they lease from Five Fridges Farm in Wheat Ridge. This is their second season. Clear Creek Organics is CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). A CSA is a direct connection between the farmer and consumer. CSA members pay an annual fee to assist the farmer with production costs before or early in the season in exchange for a weekly share of fresh produce. In this case, members pick up their weekly share at the farm for about 10 weeks (11 weeks for a fruit share) from early June to mid October. Fruits, such as peaches, are available later in the season through a relationship with Ela Family Farms on the Colorado Western Slope. In 2013, Clear Creek Organics had 53 members. They will continue to accept membership for 2014 until they reach 60 members or May 1, which ever comes first. People are choosing to buy locally grown and produced items for a variety of reasons. Economically, it keeps money in the community. Several studies suggest that organic and local produce often have higher nutritional value than their grocery store counterparts.

In the case of a typical grocery store tomato, many consumers find the tomato lacks taste, as tomatoes are picked long before ripe to survive transport and for longer shelf life. “It’s not really a tomato,” said Cochenour. Cochenour said his interest in organic food production started when he was working as a cook and pursuing a marketing degree. He later decided he wanted to go back to school and between becoming a chef or a farmer he choose the latter, with the reasons of being “more of a morning person” and “loving to work outside.” He now has a horticulture degree. In addition to being a full-time farmer, he teaches urban farm management at Front Range Community College in the spring and fall semesters. During peak season, he works on the farm 65-70 hours per week. In February, Clear Creek Organics was featured on the first episode of Frank Bonano’s Colorado Public Television show, Chef Driven; a series that explores the

relationship between chef and Colorado food and beverage producers. Bonanno is a chef and owner of 11 restaurants in the Denver area.Clear Creek Organics supplied produce to Bonanno’s restaurant, Mizuna, for the 2013 season. Cochenour gets phone calls from around the Denver area from people who are interested in CSA membership. If they don’t live close by or they can’t take additional members, he refers them to other area CSAs. “It’s not a competition. It’s about feeding a community,” he said. On April 30, Clear Creek Organics will join other local suppliers at a Local Food Festival at the Mountain Phoenix School from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information regarding the Local Food Festival see What’s Happening on page 10.

For more information about Clear Creek Organics contact Stephen Cochen-our at 720-588-8258 or visit clearcreekor-ganics.org. To find local CSAs, visit www.localharvest.org/csa/.

Whole Wellness, the Natural Way

By Laura Poole When The Green Herb owner Tom Phillips was sick 20 some years ago and modern medicine wasn’t helping him get better, his wife Linda took it upon herself to try some home remedies that utilized natural methods. They proved to be just what he needed. His health drastically improved overall and ever since then, from Linda’s kitchen to the new building they moved into in December of 2013, helping people restore and maintain health naturally has been a key element in their success. When the couple realized how important this change in their health was, and how much better they felt when they stuck to it, they knew they had to share it with others. They moved from a small, essentially in-home operation to bigger buildings, and all in Wheat Ridge. The Green Herb, which will soon be renamed New Genesis Health, is a whole wellness center that provides supplements, acupuncture, massage therapy, health screenings and consultations, and more. “We try to help Americans be healthy because we are a reactionary country; we are not a preventative country,” said Office Manager Sarah Phillips, who married into the family business. “Our main goal is to educate people who come in here to make better decisions for their health so they’re not paying for it when they’re older. We have the highest obesity rates and the highest cancer rates … and it really has to do with what we put in our mouths.” Lifelong customers can tell you they benefit from the non-Western natural pharmacy outlook that The Green Herb stands for, because it works. From chiropractors to massage therapist, free one-hour consultations with Linda herself, and the natural herbal supplements they manufacture and sell right in the front office, this business has found a place in Wheat Ridge and in this health-desperate country. “If you got something going on we have something for it, or at least we can give you the steps to get over that particular ailment,” said Phillips. Chiropractors Dr. Mike Cass, who also does acupuncture, and Shelly Peters, also a certified licensed massage therapist, both agree it’s a perfect fit for them personally and professionally. Everyone shares the passion for helping people be informed about health and changing their lifestyle through diet and natural supplements that improve health overall. “There’s a whole variety of [supplements], we have something for everything,” said Cass. “To have people that have been doing it for a long time and to pull all that together

to individualize for one person, I think that’s what makes us unique.” Each customer that walks in can get a free health screening with Linda. From there, they have a broad view of their body and their health and can decide what to do from there. A blood analysis, taken by Cass, can tell you even more about your specific health issues, and is one of the most popular services. Massages, muscle activation therapy, chiropractic sessions and a vast selection of herbal supplements to help with a variety of health concerns are options to choose from, but are by no means the only option. Linda and Tom learned long ago that they weren’t salespeople, and to this day do not push any of their customers (some who have been loyal for 15 years) to buy any of their products or services: they merely inform and advise. The Green Herb advertises mostly by word of mouth, and once a week Linda and Cass do a radio broadcast on The Healthy Nature Show, on channel 1360.

For more information and a full list of their services, go to www.thegreenherb.com/, or visit their new location at 4565 Kipling St.

Ribbon-Cutting Time in Wheat Ridge

The public is invited to join Wheat Ridge Mayor Joyce Jay, city council and the Wheat Ridge Business Association for four ribbon-cutting ceremonies at new businesses along The Ridge at 38, starting at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 2. The evening’s events will include light refreshments and drinks at each location and will continue until 9 p.m. Starting 4:30 p.m. at Chrisitano’s Gelato and Espresso, 7172 W. 38th Ave., and followed by CC Rider Rental, 3755 Teller St., at 4:45 p.m., the entourage will travel to WRBA’s new office at 5 p.m., and cuts the final ribbon at Peter Damian Fine Jewelry and Antiques, 7220 W. 28th Ave., at 5:15 p.m. Complementing the festivities, Teller Street Gallery and Studios will be open for First Friday, showcasing local artwork with live music beginning at 6 p.m. Posey Girl Flowers will have an open house throughout the evening, and other shops on the corridor will be open for business. Affordable American Insurance will also host an open house at the office of the Wheat Ridge Business Association.

For additional information, contact Loretta DiTirro at 303-594-1520 or loretta [email protected].

Happy Birthday, Colorado Plus Brewpub

Wheat Ridge’s Colorado+ Brewpub celebrated its first anniversary last month. Located at 6995 W. 38th Ave., the establishment’s selection is rotated daily to represent more than 30 local breweries at any given time, including in-house brewed ales and lagers. They also feature a menu of burgers, entrees, appetizers, soups, salads and desserts, prepared from fresh and mostly local ingredients. There’s a kids’ menu for the little ones, too.

For more information, visit their Face-book page at facebook.com/Colorado-PlusBrewpub or coloradoplus.net, or call 720-353-4853.

KareBear Bakery Opens On 38th Avenue

As of press time, Karin Murray and Roberta Lott were celebrating the opening of KareBear Bakery at their new location at 6150 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge. The small batch bakery and event caterer will serve up scrumptious baked goods Tuesday through Saturday from 6:00 am-2pm. Save the date for their grand opening weekend May 3rd and 4th.

For details call (720) 638-3649 or visit www.karebearbakery.com.

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Page 5: Neighborhood Gazette April 2014

ngazette.com – April 18 - MAY 15, 2014 – neighborhood gazette 5

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Save The Date! Aug. 15-16, 2014ANDERSON PARK • 44TH AVENUE & FIELD

Page 6: Neighborhood Gazette April 2014

6 NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – APRIL 18 – MAY 15, 2014 – ngazette.com

WR Pharmacy1/8 H

By Zachary Urban

Summer is right around the corner. In preparation for summer, my wife and I

have been researching local summer camp options for our daughter, Isabella. This is our rookie season. For the uninitiated, there are a plethora of options: summer camps for Lego builders, Mathstronauts (a camp combining math and astronomy), Digging for Dinos, The Curtain Playhouse, YMCA, Camp Invention, Wheat Ridge Rec Center, JR. Adventures in Machines & Engineering, and Mizel Museum Day Camps, just to name a few. Choosing is a daunting task for both parents and kids. Because Isabella hasn’t previously attended summer camps, and we are new to the scene, we have settled on Wheat Ridge Recreation Center’s Summer Day Camp. You’d think that it would be simple to pick a camp and be done with it. The popularity of some of these camps results in some very long lines and early mornings for parents seeking a spot for their kids. I learned this lesson the early way, and by that I mean way too early in the morning. One day last week I rolled up to the Wheat Ridge Recreation center at the crack of dawn (4:30 a.m. to be exact) to get in line to register Isabella for the Summer

By Tim Fitzgerald

It used to be said about Wheat Ridge that there was no “there” there. Unfortunately,

it has been true at least in my 70+ years. We have no focal point, no downtown, no “there”. Well, all that is changing. And there is no denying that we’re the better for it. In the last decade city councils and city staffs, with the help of numerous public meetings and citizen study groups, have concentrated on building on what little “bones” we had to develop a focal point, a city center for the city. With public input, 38th Avenue from about Pierce to Wadsworth was chosen as our new center. Study of the issue also revealed the need for the city to adjust to the new realities of the 21st century. It became clear that 38th from Sheridan to Pierce needed to evolve into living and shopping areas that more closely matched what people in 2014 want. The numerous empty and blighted buildings along 38th gave proof to the fact that what we had was not attractive to people today. Since the city began focusing on implementing the plans to develop a city center and to help the rest of 38th to evolve, the buzz about Wheat Ridge began. Businesses and developers began to see that we were intent on re-inventing our commercial strips while leaving our wonderful residential neighborhoods alone. Even before we actually have the beautiful landscaped and walkable 38th Avenue that we will eventually have, new development began. New businesses, sensing an opportunity to get in on the ground fl oor, arrived and old businesses in the city began to spruce themselves up. The attention generated by the buzz about 38th Avenue spread over the entire city. Away from 38th we are seeing renewal

Day Camp. I was successful, and registered Isabella. We are still deciding whether to send Isabella to any other great summer camps, but for now we are good to go with at least one. For those veteran parents out there with knowledge of some of the other summer

camps available, please share with us rookies – we could use all the help we can get. Any tricks of the trade you may have learned along the way would be appreciated. Speaking of early morning, Wheat Ridge residents just gained a new reason to get up at the crack of dawn. Karebear Bakery, at 38th Avenue and Jay Street, has just opened, with regular hours of 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This small business has been a long time in coming. The proprietors of have been very busy over the past few months getting everything in order to serve up great baked goods on 38th Avenue. The anticipation of their opening has built up a strong following on the east side of Wheat Ridge. I am looking forward to visiting it and hope you get a chance to stop by and support another great local Wheat Ridge business.

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

that we sorely need but have not had for decades. Two examples are the new upscale housing development at about 38th Avenue and Tabor Street and the scraping of the blighted center at 38th and Kipling, which will start soon. A new Sprouts grocery store is planned to open in that space in early 2015. On 38th Avenue itself, there are at least

33 new businesses since 2009, with more scheduled to open soon. A gelato shop will open before summer; a scooter rental business is also about to open. I am looking forward to the new bakery, which will probably be open when you read this. It is likely, though no lease has been signed, that there will be a new barbecue restaurant with an open rooftop patio near Upham Street. It really is hard to ignore

that eating and snacking has taken a leap forward on 38th. There are lots of new restaurants and places to socialize with adult beverages. Fran’s Café opened in 2011. Right Coast Pizza opened with our fi rst “pop out” dining area in the street. The Offi ce, with an eclectic creative menu, replaced another restaurant at about Reed Street. Across the street is the Colorado Plus Brew Pub, which features only Colorado beer. Mama Sannino’s opened just recently, moving from Arvada. They are at about Fenton, just a block west of the Row Home development now going up at Depew. We are also fortunate to have old favorites such as the Sunrise/Sunset, the Chalet, The Red Tango and La Fonda, among others. We are becoming a better city. There is just no denying it. Let’s keep the momentum going.

Contact Wheat Ridge District III City Councilman Tim Fitzgerald at tfi [email protected] or 720-360-0871.

Of Summer Camps and Cinnamon Rolls

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Fruitdale Sanitation District

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4990 Miller St. • Wheat Ridge

George Jorgensen

Page 7: Neighborhood Gazette April 2014

ngazette.com – April 18 - MAY 15, 2014 – neighborhood gazette 7

Medically Speaking

Senior FocuS

By Dr. Wojciech Zolcik

As a society, we are more accepting of mental illness today than we were

20 years ago. But when it comes to our elderly, we tend to not see things the same way. Sometimes, we forget that, as we age, many of the same ailments that plague us when we are younger can continue to do so as we get older. Most people are well aware of Alzheimer’s. We know that as we grow older, we tend to lose some of our ability to remember, recognize and function. Dementia, which is a gradual, progressive decline of cognitive abilities (not always due to Alzheimer’s), affects many elderly. The older we get, the more likely that our cognition will to some degree be impaired. But what about depression or anxiety? These are much more common, and they can significantly impact the quality of life of our elderly. In fact, depression is widespread in that age group, which has the highest suicide rate. We have great treatments available today for depression and anxiety. When depression is well treated, the difference in quality of life is remarkable. Gone are the sad moods, sleepless nights and irritability. Depression affects not only the ones suffering from it, but the people around them. It is important to recognize when our elderly parent, grandparent or other loved one is clinically depressed. Depression

in the elderly, as with other age groups, is characterized by a powerful state of sadness, lack of motivation, lack of energy, irritability, feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, sleep difficulties and sometimes thoughts of suicide. There is one thing we see a lot in

depression at a late age that we do not see as often in younger people: pseudodementia. It looks like dementia, but is not. When the depression is treated, the “dementia” goes away. Antidepressants available today are safe and well tolerated, and can make an amazing difference in the quality of life of our elderly. As we age, our bodies go through processes that are sometimes hard to accept. Some are debilitating. We are faced

with the need to rapidly adjust to a changing life style, to accept new limitations. It is not easy, and that in itself can cause depression. People with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease are more prone to depression. And people who are depressed tend to not take as good care of themselves. It becomes a vicious circle of illness, which, if left untreated, can lead to disastrous consequences. Talk to your elderly loved ones about depression. If you have any concern that indeed they might be depressed, ask them to see a professional. You can make a huge difference in their life, and add many years to it.

Dr. Wojciech Zolcik is the medical di-rector of Senior Behavioral Health at Ex-empla Lutheran Medical Center.

By Julia Spigarelli

As the many complexities of the aging process begin to introduce themselves,

you may begin to wonder about what the future holds for you as a senior; what is the “next step” to be thinking about?

While most people would not want to consider moving from a home they have lived in and loved for many years, at least a conversation about the possibility of a move may be a good thing. Statistics have shown that “Senior Community Living” offers many advantages on several levels:

• Freedom from worrying about managing a large household,

• Opportunity to meet new friends and “start over,” especially after the loss of a spouse/partner,

• The choice to cook or enjoy healthy meals in a dining room,

• Assistance with ADLs (activities of daily living, such as showers, medications, etc.), which enables a person to live independently for a longer period of time,

• The security of knowing that health care professionals are available when needed, especially in an emergency, and

• Choice of activities designed to keep body, mind and spirit healthy.

What are some of the signs that indicate a move might be a positive option for you?

Medication: are you forgetting to take your meds or perhaps “self medicating” (either deleting or adding pills rather than following doctor’s orders)?

Safety: Is your home a safe place to live; in a good neighborhood, without stairs, and with good lighting and adequate safety equipment, such as grab bars, toilet risers, etc.?

Support: do you have family and good friends surrounding you that you can call on for assistance, or are they either far away or unavailable?

Nutrition: Are you eating healthy meals and staying well hydrated, or snacking on junk food because you no longer care to cook?

Falls: have you had several unexplained falls or one or more trips to the emergency room or a hospital admission recently?

Socialization: are you able to still get out and see friends, or can they visit you? Are you becoming reclusive and prefer to be by yourself most of the time?

ADLs: can you still manage bathing, medications, dressing and minor household chores independently?

Physical: when is the last time you had a complete check-up with your physician? What is the current status of your hearing and vision?

Driving: have you had any recent accidents (either your fault or the other person)? Do you still feel confident that you can be a safe and defensive driver? Is your reaction time still good?

Even if you are not quite ready to take this step, why not be proactive and visit a few Senior Living Communities and get a feel for what life is like there. You may be pleasantly surprised. If you schedule your appointment during dining hours, most places will invite you to be their guest for lunch or dinner!

Julia Spigarelli is the Resident Services Coordinator at Highland West and South Independent Senior Living Community, 6340 W. 38th Ave., in Wheat Ridge. Con-tact her at 303-424-9401.

When is it Time to Move?

Depression in Older Adults – When Does it Need Treatment?

For advertising information contact Tim Berland 303-995-2806 • [email protected]

WRBA1/2 V

Dr. Wojciech Zolcik

Wheat Ridge Business Association

Meet your business neighbors and learn about new developments in

Je� erson County & Wheat Ridge

Tim Berland • 303-995-2806

Blu Hartkopp303-588-6761

Loretta DiTirro • 303-594-1520

Mandy & Joe Fulton • 303-424-9273

Pam & Corey Clyncke • 303-895-9376Clyncke Agency

Kristian Teegardin • 720-568-0461City Council

Don Seyfer • 303-422-5261

Joe DeMott303-421-4100

Gayle Maschari • 303-424-1881JEWELER

Roberta Lott 720-638-3649 Cheryl Blum Garcia • 303-232-1736

Marc Capel-Jones • 303-525-8655

Surface CenterMarc Capel-Jones

303-525-86556145 W. Harvard Drive

Lakewood, CO 80227

[email protected]

Come See What We Are About!

We invite you to join our next monthly breakfast meeting

Tues., May 13 • 7-8:45am Wheat Ridge Rec Center

Guest Speaker: Richard J. Bryan“Being Frank – Simple ways to improve your business & life”

RSVP by May 9www.wheatridgebiz.com

Denise D. Waddell303-423-1400

Kathy Nowak303-619-7946

Cheryl Brungardt 303-425-0230

Damion Rice 303-507-1431

Nancy Crego 303-526-5564

Th omas R. Ripp • 303-423-7131

Boatright & Ripp, LLC

Page 8: Neighborhood Gazette April 2014

8 neighborhood gazette – APRIL 18 – MAy 15, 2014 – ngazette.com

By Kathy Nowak

Going to the pool can be a fun experience for the whole family! Although having

real fun at the pool comes from having your child in quality swim lessons, year round. Just like piano lessons, to be a safe swimmer time must be spent on a weekly basis at perfecting skills. All children should be able to fall in the water, roll to an independent back float – stop, rest and breathe – and flip over to swim again to safety. That’s what it takes for a child to be safe in and around water, in addition to excellent parental supervision! We teach children how their body is buoyant and adapts to the water environment. They learn how to swim-float-swim with lifelong water survival techniques that will help them in the event of an incident. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, drowning is still the leading cause of injury-related death in children. In 2010, the AAP updated its recommendation that the best time for a child to learn to swim is at the age of 1 year. The dangers of water are often misunderstood by a small child. They have no idea that water can take their life and it often happens in the blink of an eye! Likewise, teaching a child to blow bubbles actually teaches a child to deplete their oxygen. Also, telling a child that water is dangerous and to stay away only increases their curiosity and desire to explore the water.

It just makes sense to give kids valid information about how to be safe around water. It’s also a good idea to tailor lessons to an individual child’s disposition and personality, so that they learn at their own pace. In traditional “group” lessons, children get distracted and are taught at the group’s speed, which can be either too fast or too slow for the individual. That’s why I recommend private, individual lessons. Realizing your child has not made progress for a long period of time, and spending the time to wait for the lessons is a disappointment for any parent. Isn’t it any wonder then that more parents are realizing that private lessons (where the focus is on your child) are worth every penny!

Kathy Nowak is Founder/CEO of Swim Otters Swim & Fitness School, 3974 Youngfield St. For more information, go to www.swimotters.com or call 303-554-SWIM (7946).

What You Need to Know About Water Safety

Ask The experT

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By Guy Nahmiach

I can’t get over the fact that we have just one more month in this school year.

While winter is sure to be a memorable one, it doesn’t seem like anything significant happened between the summer and Christmas. Except, of course, for the school board elections. But that’s a whole other story. The issue these days seems to be revolving around compensation, retirement and, of course, charter schools. I have to believe that if parents were being heard and children were being taught at their needed level, families would not be seeking options elsewhere. As a Realtor, my buyers are always looking up school scores on various web sites, focusing on the ratings of schools in the same neighborhood. Lately, principals have been using growth scores to defend their performance. Growth is hugely important. However, if you’ve grown from a two to a five, that’s still lower than a school with a rating of nine. The question is more about getting to that nine. How do we attract the kind of students who will raise our overall scores? These are families that are not enticed by championship trophies but instead choice into other schools for their high education standards. I hear many objections to testing and scores. Teachers are now compensated by student performance. Schools are chosen based on overall ratings. I’m not sure what the issue is. Aren’t mortgages based on your credit scores? College admissions based on SAT and ACT scores? Sports teams ranked by points? You keep up on your cholesterol number? That’s just the world we live in. How many families “choice” outside of Wheat Ridge, and why? This is the question

for a newly formed committee that is trying to promote Wheat Ridge schools for Wheat Ridge families. Committee members include city council member Genevieve Wooden, Mayor Joyce Jay, Chief of Police Dan Brennan, board of education members, City Manager Patrick Goff and yours truly.

What are the issues and how do we solve them? This coming fall, we will be holding a Wheat Ridge Education Summit, with representatives from all schools (neighborhood, charter and private) addressing concerns brought up by citizens. Watch this column for more details. Last Thursday I attended the board of education budget and superintendent search

update meeting. The process seems to be leading up to a superintendent being chosen in May. The board is also planning on asking every family two questions: What is the first priority or greatest need in your school? And, what is one suggestion for change or improvement that the district could make to help your school? The budget presentation explained where and how dollars are spent on programs and where those funds came from. Surprisingly, I was the only one with a question: How many total dollars are spent on advanced learners? We were told that $72 million was spent on special education, and I simply wanted a full picture. I was told that “they” would get back to me. “They” didn’t ask for my name. Five days later I’m still waiting…now I’m keeping count! Thank you Mountain Phoenix for an amazing evening at your silent auction event! As always, thanks for reading

Contact Guy Nahmiach at 303-999-5789 or [email protected].

Guy Nahmiach

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Page 9: Neighborhood Gazette April 2014

ngazette.com – April 18 - MAY 15, 2014 – neighborhood gazette 9

By Bonnie McNulty

Do you want to be a member of Edgewater City Council? As of April 17,

Councilwoman Janka Flaska’s resignation will create an opening. I am sorry to see her go and I wish her and her delightful family well. I hope there will be several applicants for the opening. If you are interested in applying, you will need to be ready to commit to the responsibilities and the privilege of serving the citizens of Edgewater. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself if you choose to pursue this leadership opportunity: •WillIbeabletocommittoat least two meetings a month? •AsIvoteondocumentsthataffectmyneighbors and myself, will I be able to read and understand the material in the council packets? • Do I have relationships in thecommunity that will enable me to discuss what folks want and what they do not want? •WillIbeabletolistentoothercouncilmembers and be ready to do what is best for all, rather than just what suits me? •Have I attended enoughmeetings toeven know what the culture of the council might be and will I be a positive part of it?

If you would like to better understand council’s process of appointing a new council member, read the City Council Minutes of June 6, 2013.What you’ll seeare all of the questions the applicants were asked during the interview process. Should

you be appointed, your term of service will last until the next municipal election in 2015. Speakingofelections, theWheatRidgeFireProtectionDistrictishavinganelectionMay 6. Eligible voters should have already

received information on the two issues that will be on the ballot. Ballot Issue A will ask the voters to approve an increase in the current property tax. And five candidateswill be vying forthreeopenseatsontheDistrict’sBoardofDirectors.Toseeacopyof the ballot questions, visit the District’s website, under Newsand Events (www.wrfire.org/about/news-events). It has been my pleasure

to host Candidate Coffees for the citizens ofEdgewater since 2007.Thiselection I have the opportunity to extend an invitation to everyone in the WheatRidge Fire Protection District. All five ofthe candidates for the board of directors, and the current board members, have been asked to attend on Saturday, April 19, 9:30-11:00 a.m., at the Edgewater CoffeeCompany,5224W.25thAve. Asusual,IamavailableonWednesdaymornings,9:00-11:00a.m.,attheEdgewaterCoffee Company. (I know the shop is closed, however Gina has graciously allowed me to continue my Mayor’s Coffee and to make coffee and tea available! Thanks, Gina.) Ifyou need to meet another time please call.

Edgewater mayor Bonnie McNulty can be reached at 303-233-6216 or [email protected].

Bonnie McNulty

Janet Spangenberg

Calling For Candidates for a City Council Vacancy

Your Informed Vote is Important

EdgEwatEr City CounCil

EdgEwatEr City nEws

By Janet Spangenberg

As your newest Edgewater City Council member, I had planned to introduce

myself here, but that will have to wait, as there is a far more pressing issue. The Wheat Ridge FireProtection District is seekingto raise our mill levy from 7.5 to 12.5 mills. By now, as a registered voter, you should have received an election notice regarding this Ballot Issue A. If passed, homeowners can expect to see a monthly increase in their property taxes at around $8, for the average Edgewater residence. Also on the ballot, we will be asked to vote for three directorsoftheWRFPDboard. Ballots are being mailed out to eligible voters beginning April 14, and need to be returned by May 6. Eligible voters in this election are those registered to vote in Colorado and include: anyone who has resided intheDistrict forat least30days;any property owners in the district, and their spouses; and those obligated to paytaxes under a contract to purchase taxable property within the district. If you were an Edgewater voter in 2010, you may recall we voted to become part of the Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District,and we raised our mill levy from 5.03 to 7.5. Since then, the WRFPD has facedcritical challenges in its administrative managementandiscurrentlyinafinancialcrisis. Your informed vote is important. Information on the district’s troubles, and what led up to this crisis, may be found on the online news site, EdgewaterEcho.com.Enter “WRFPD” into the searchbox,

andlookforanarticleIwrotetitled,“ThinkAbout It, Wheat Ridge Fire ProtectionDistrict.” This search will also pull upinterviews(todate)withtheWRFPDBoardmember candidates. Keep checking back, as the candidates continue to submit their

information. The Board candidatesare incumbent Jim Johnson ( j j o h n s o n@w r f i r e . o r g ) ,incumbent Kent Johnson ( k j o h n s o n@w r f i r e . o r g ) ,incumbent Ron Benson([email protected]), MonicaDuran (www.monicaduran.com)and Lenny Ortiz ([email protected]). Edgewater Mayor Bonnie McNulty has invited the five

board candidates for coffee and conversation Saturday, April 19, from 9:30 to 11 a.m., at the Edgewater Coffee Company, 5224 W. 25th Ave. All district voters arewelcome to attend for an opportunity to meet the candidates and discuss the issues before the election. TheWRFPDBoardmeetsregularlythethirdWednesdayof themonth,6:00p.m.,at 10901 W. 38th Ave. The last meetingbefore the election is April 16, but may have passed by the time this article is printed. I encourage the public to attend board meetings even after the election is over. Special meetings at other times sometimes occur. The district’s website containsadditional information, including notice of the next meeting, and contact information for the board of directors. Visit their website atwww.wrfire.org.

Contact Edgewater City Council mem-ber Janet Spangenberg at [email protected]

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Page 10: Neighborhood Gazette April 2014

10 neighborhood gazette – APRIL 18 – MAy 15, 2014 – ngazette.com

Edgewater Youth Egg Hunt at Citizen’s Park April 19

Kids (and canines) are invited to scramble for eggs (hard-boiled) at the 2014 Edgewater Youth Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m., at Citizen’s Park, W. 24th Avenue and Benton Street. The Dog Egg Hunt immediately follows. Three separate areas are provided, for age groups 0-5, 6-10 and 11+ years. Parents will only be allowed in the 0-5 age group area. The event is free. BYOB (bring your own basket) and camera, for candid snapshots with the Easter Bunny after the hunt.

Open House for New Study to Improve Wadsworth, April 23

The City of Wheat Ridge and Colorado Department of Transportation announced plans to conduct a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study to investigate improvement opportunities to Wadsworth Boulevard from West 35th Avenue to West 48th Avenue. The city has joined with multiple community organizations, special interest groups, and local and state agency representatives to provide input. The city will host an open house to present the details of the project and gather feedback, Wednesday, April 23, 5-7 p.m., at Wheat Ridge City Hall, 7500 W. 29th Ave. “Over time, increased traffic volumesand economic growth have contributed to the pressure for Wadsworth Boulevard to move more traffic,” said Wheat RidgeAdministrative Services Director Heather Geyer.“Theneedtomoveautomobiletraffichas reduced the safety of other modes of travel such as walking, biking and public transit throughout the corridor. “The PEL study will lead to a seamless decision making process that will promote efficient and cost-effective solutions andenvironmental stewardship, streamline project implementation, and minimize duplicationofefforts.”

For more information, contact Projects Supervisor Mark Westberg at 303-235-2863 or [email protected].

Police Push for Child Safety at Children’s Day Event, April 26

The Wheat Ridge Police will inspect car seatsandbicycles,offerchildidentificationkits, and meet with parents and children at its fourth annual Children’s Day Safety Fair, Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Wheat Ridge 5-8 School, 7101 W. 38th Ave. Two children’s bicycles will be given away at the free event, and traffic safetyand crime prevention information will be available. The event also includes a kids’ bike rodeo, face painting, a jumping castle, and a miniaturefiretruck.Replacementcarseatswill be available for a donation; bring your child and your vehicle. Spanish interpreters

parts or any small gas engine equipment; or materials or debris from a private contractor’s work.

For more information or to schedule, call 303-205-7600.

Senior Connections Wheat Ridge Kicks Off Spring & Summer Programs

The newly formed Senior Connections Wheat Ridge will offer classes, social activities and outreach events starting in May. CSC Wheat Ridge is a community collaboration of nonprofits committed tochanging the way people age, believing that older adults benefit fromengaging intheir community and knowing where to access information and resources. Through community partnerships, CSC Wheat Ridge offers comprehensive services to support independence and healthy aging, including education, recreation, information, and referral, mental and physical health, in-home services, and community engagement. Two free Social Afternoons – opportunities to meet neighbors and socialize – will take place Wednesdays, May 7 and June 2, 2-4 p.m., at Teller Street Art Gallery, 7190 W. 38th Ave. Two free gardening classes will be offered at Ye Olde Firehouse, 3232 North Depew St.: “Herbs,” showing how toenhanceandimprovetheflavorandsmellsof everyday food with herbs, Thursday, May 1, 10:30 a.m.-noon; and “Spring Planting and Container Gardens,” teaching thebasics of growing a garden in your own backyard, front porch, patio or windowsill, Tuesday, May 13, 10:30-11:30 a.m. All are invited to meet the Senior Advisory Committee to provide input for the resident-run-and-driven program, meeting every other month (Monday, May 5, 10:30 a.m.) at the City of Wheat Ridge Municipal Building, 7500 W. 29th Ave. Program coordinator Alison Joucovsky will be available to answer questions, explain programs and make referrals, in person, at the following locations and times each month:• Second Wednesday (May 14), 1-3 p.m.Highland South Apartments, 6360 W. 38th Ave.• Second Thursday, (May 8), noon-2p.m., Active Adult Center, 6363 W. 35th Ave.• ThirdWednesday (May 21), 9-11 a.m.,Town Center Apartments, 4340 Vance St.• ThirdThursday(May15),noon-2p.m.,Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling St.• Fourth Thursday (May 22), noon-2p.m., Wheat Ridge Municipal Building, 7500 W. 29th Ave.

For more information, contact Ali-son Joucovsky at 720-248-4591 or [email protected].

Senior Connections Edgewater Offers Walk-In Clinic, Sock Hop, More

Be it sharing a simple meal or learning something new, Senior Connections Edgewater has free or low-cost activities for everyone this month. All programs are held at the Edgewater Rec Room, 5845 W. 25th Ave., unless otherwise noted. At this month’s Walk-In Wellness Clinic, the Red Rocks Physician Assistant Program will check seniors’ blood pressure, blood sugar, plus, oxygen and wait, and answer general health questions, at no charge. It’s held Friday, April 25, 2:30-4 p.m. at Edgewater Plaza, 2250 Eaton St. Just show up. Get your dancing shoes on for “Let’s Go ToTheHop!”,afreeeveningofdance,snacks,friends and special guests at the Citizen’s Park Pavilion, between Benton and Chase streets on W. 22nd Ave., Thursday, May 8, starting at 8 p.m. No registration required. College professor and noted music historian Betsy Schwarm hosts Classical Connections Music Class, a music-

will be on site for the event. For more information call Officer Steve

Berkowitz at 303-235-2910.

Discover Community Comestibles at Local Food Festival, April 30

Discover where to buy local honey or farm-fresh eggs and vegetables in your own neighborhood at the Local Food Festival, Wednesday, April 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Mountain Phoenix School, 4725 Miller St., in Wheat Ridge. The Festival celebrates the variety of food that Wheat Ridge producers, growers and farmers have to offer, and is an opportunity for people in the community to learnmoreanddiscoverwheretheycanfindthese local food options. Attendees can sample products, learn more about the people who grow, make and harvest food, sign up for Community SupportedAgriculture,andfindoutwhereto buy local meats, eggs, honey, vegetables, fruit, breads, preserves and more.

For more information, call Wheat Ridge 2020 at 720-259-1030 or email Mara Owen at [email protected].

Sign Up Soon for Free Large Item Pick Up

Got a big mattress, major appliance or other large, bulky item you’d like to get rid of, but don’t want to pay the trash man? The first 275WheatRidge residences thatregister for the city’s Large Item Pick Up program will be eligible to have one big household item picked up for free in June. To register, call 303-205-7600, Monday through Friday, May 5-June 6, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. (except Memorial Day, Monday, May 26). Verification of WheatRidge residency and pre-approval of the type of item to be picked up will be required atthetimeofregistration.Onlythefirst275registrants will be eligible for the program. Pickups will be scheduled for up to 138 residences on Saturday, June 14, and up to 137 the following Saturday, June 21. Those wishing to have additional large items picked up must contact Republic Services customer care at 303-286-1200 no later than one week prior to the scheduled pick up date to determine costs and availability. Examples of items eligible for pick up include one piece of furniture, bed (including mattress, box spring and frame), stove, oven, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, sink, toilet, bathtub, door, window, water heater, gas grill (no propane bottle), swing set (disassembled) or bicycle. Items that will not be picked up include: refrigerators, freezers or any item with Freon; microwave ovens; wood stoves; televisions, computer monitors or computers; garbage bags full of trash or loosedebristhatwillfitintoagarbagebagor trash can; trees, branches or shrubs, alone or mixed with trash; household chemicals and paint; fuel tanks or cans; batteries; propane bottles, or closed drums; gravel, asphalt, pipe (any type or size), rock, sod, earth, concrete, brick, block, pavers, or roofingmaterials; tires; engine blocks, car

appreciation class, on Tuesday, May 6 & 20, 10-11:30 a.m.; $5. Call or email for details. Watch the Colorado Rockies battle the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field for $7, including transportation, on Thursday, May 22, starting at noon. Deadline to register and pay is Thursday, May 15.

For more information, contact Volun-teer/Activity Coordinator Felicia Goett at 720-763-3042 or [email protected].

Discuss Death and Other Topics at the Edgewater Rec Room, April 24

“The Customs, Rituals and Practices AroundDeathinOtherCultures”wrapsupEdgewater Colorado Senior Connections’ and Feldman Mortuary’s free lecture series on rituals, legalities, proprieties and preparations surrounding death, Thursday, April 24, 10:30 a.m., at the Edgewater Recreation Room, 5845 W. 25th Ave. The respectful and educational panel discussion examines the customs and practices of different religions, cultures and countries, and how they are similar and different in honoring those who have departed. The panel will include Rabbi Sarah Gilbert from Shalom Park; Joel Newton, a Protestant pastor who lives in Edgewater; Catherine Orsborn, a Program Associate at DU’s Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy, explaining Muslim traditions; and Ramona Beltran, Ph.D., a professor at DU’s Graduate School of Social Work, on Aztec traditions and beliefs.

To register, call or email Alison at 720-248-4591 or [email protected].

Gardens and Volunteers Wanted for Wheat Ridge Garden Tour, July 12

Is the focal point of your garden a stunning perennial, annual, vegetable or xeriscape garden? Does your yard feature a waterfall, gazebo, 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 12, 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. Let Milly know if you’d like to volunteer. All help will be greatly appreciated.

Changes Set to Carnation Festival, Aug. 15-16

The 45th annual Wheat Ridge Carnation

Festival is set for Aug. 15-16, and organizers have announced upgrades to re-energize and re-vamp the event. The Festival is one of the oldest and longest running festivals in Colorado, hosting over 25,000 visitors over two days.

The public and vendors will see an expanded beer garden and food court, and revised, less-congested midway. More and new kids activities will be available in the KidsZone,andfireworksandthespaghettidinner will be offered both nights. A new ticketing system will allow the purchase of food, beverages, kids rides, games or activities and circus tickets with official“Festival Fun” tickets; only merchandisevendors will have cash sales.

Sponsor and vendor applications are being accepted online at www.thecarnationfestival.com; space is limited, and expected to fill quickly. Zoppe’ circusticket sales will begin June 1; visit www.zoppecolorado.com for details. For Festival information or to volunteer, call Joey DeMott, 303-929-4608, or Gina Hallisey, 303-726-6111; email [email protected]; or visit www.thecarnationfestival.com.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Correction: That’s West 29th Marketplace

In the March edition of the Neighborhood Gazette, we erroneously reported that merchants on West 29th Avenue chose West 29th Avenue Marketplace as the new moniker for the stretch of retail establishments between Sheridan Boulevard and Fenton Street. The correct name is West 29th Marketplace. More than 200 people cast their votes for six possible names after merchants announced the contest in February. The group will now hire a graphic designer to create a logo and subsequent signage. West 29th Marketplace includes new businesses West 29th Restaurant and Bar, People’s Market, Twisted Smoothie, and Wheat Ridge Poultry and Meats, as well as Styles Hair and Nails, DSH Gas and Food, STAT Automotive and TJ Wine and Liquor. As the days get longer and warmer, West 29th Marketplace will host outdoor events for patrons to enjoy the outdoors. Past summer offerings have included a farmers market at 29th Avenue and Depew Street, and a stop for the Wheat Ridge Cruiser Crawl, a bicycle event in which riders follow a route and make stops at local businesses.

Page 11: Neighborhood Gazette April 2014

ngazette.com – April 18 - MAY 15, 2014 – neighborhood gazette 11

west 29th merchants1/2 V

Lighten UpBy Jeanne Nichols

Incorporating lofty elements and natural light into your home or office decor can

open the mind and heart. Many of us may not have a view or great light where we live or work, so there is no better way to open up your space than using design elements that focus on the sky and remind us of the outdoors. Kites can be used in both interior and exterior; the design, patterns and colors are fanciful and can enliven any space. If you are looking for inspiration for using kites in your décor, be sure and participate in the Wheat Ridge Kite Flight Festival on April 26 at Anderson Park. A great use of kites in exterior landscaping is the kite awning. These bright and colorful awnings add great color to the outdoor patio area. Light and lofty with the wind moving through while protecting your space with shade can make your outdoor area a very special place. Of course kites are not just for outdoors. Bringing the great colors and random shape inside can be done through the use of mobiles or paintings, either on canvas or directly on the wall or an appliqué. There is always the option of actually installing kites in a corner of the room, ceiling or on walls, which brings the outside in and opens up the room. Fabulous artwork, specifically in large format, can also fill a wall while creating an open “window” in a confined space. Many people are concerned that large art in a small space is overwhelming, but keep in mind that it is all about the subject matter and color: White backgrounds with dimension can add depth to the space, and using nature particularly with a great sky reminds of the great outdoors. Another way to create a space that encourages us to open the mind and heart is by using the image of birds in flight. With the use of stencils, appliqués and wall coverings it can take just moments. The

birds on a wire image is a favorite, which I have used in the form of both appliqués and oil paintings. Speaking of birds, birdcages are a great decor item. Hanging multiple cages at varying heights is a fun accent. No fake birds or greenery is allowed and, of course, make sure you leave the cage doors open to reminding us to open up and not be caged. Window treatments can make a huge difference in how your space feels and the kind of light that is brought into it. Window covering innovations have changed greatly in the past few years. There are many ways to treat windows today, including solar screens, which control light yet give privacy. Spring is here, let’s fly a kite and open our windows, mind and heart!

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.

HOME, GardEn & LifEstyLE

On March 31 more than 100 people attended the Wheat Ridge Town Hall

meeting at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center. The open house began at 6 p.m. with city officials and staff providing information on a variety of topics. At 6:30 p.m. City Manager Patrick Goff presented the State of the City, the first item on the agenda. Redevelopment in the city was a key point. As previously reported in the Neighborhood Gazette, the city has three commercial redevelopment projects, part of urban renewal, expected to begin this spring, starting with the southwest corner of 38th Avenue and Kipling Street, and followed by the southwest corner of 38th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, and continued development on the Town Center site, on southeast corner of 44th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. Other agenda items included the future of the city/fiscal sustainability; city-wide capital infrastructure needs; housing diversification; healthy eating and active living (HEAL); and the 38th Avenue corridor plan. “We’re experiencing success,” said mayor Joyce Jay of the future of the city, citing recent commercial and residential development and the city as a whole. District II city council member Kristi Davis spoke about fiscal sustainability, and focused on creating city revenue through a higher city sales tax, mill levy or fees. A representative of the public works department addressed city-wide infrastructure needs, stating the city is about $5 million behind on street maintenance. Following the presentations, the

Town Hall Meeting In Brief:Roads And Money In Wheat Ridge

audience voiced its concerns, the most controversial being the 38th Avenue corridor plan, specifically the road diet and building height and density limitations. Any increase in taxes or changes to building height and density limitations would go before voters in the November election.

38th Avenue On Feb. 10, Wheat Ridge City Council Council approved spending up to $41,870 for Entelechy, an urban design firm, to create a conceptual plan for the 38th Avenue corridor plan. The plan is expected to be completed in June. Presently there isn’t enough money in the 2014 city budget to cover the estimated $5 million to make permanent changes to 38th Avenue. Many Wheat Ridge businesses and residents have asked council to put the question of the future of 38th Avenue on the November ballot.

Building Height and Density Limitations Presently under the city charter, building height is limited to 35 feet for residential and 50 feet for commercial, and densities are limited to 21 units per acre of land. Some buildings, such as hospitals are excluded. Any change to the charter requires voter approval. Most likely in November on the Wheat Ridge portion of the ballot voters will be asked at least three issues; the future of 38th Avenue, building height and density limitations and increases in taxes.

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Page 12: Neighborhood Gazette April 2014

Kite Flite Festi valSaturday, April 26th

(rain date – Saturday, May 3rd)

Anderson Park11am-4pm

CUSTOM BANNERSmade in 24 hours

1. Thou shalt think safety at all ti mes.

No kite running allowed.

2. Thou shalt keep thy hands and feet off other

people’s kites, line and equipment.

3. Thou shalt fl y thy kite in open areas away from electrical

lines and trees.4. Thou shalt practi ce the Golden Rule.

5. Thou shalt turn in lost arti cles and

kids to the Kite Hospital.

6. Thou shalt park lawn chairs on the perimeter

of the fl ying fi eld and never run on it.7. Thou shalt wear sunblock,

sunglasses and warm clothing.8. Thou shalt respect the

Festi val by using trashcans.9. Thou shalt shout with joy when there are good winds.10. Thou shalt enjoy the great outdoors wind or not.

TenCommandments of Kite Flying

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Ron Benson

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Current IncumbentCandidate for Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District Board

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