Neighborhood Gazette – May 2016 by Neighborhood Gazette

Scholarship Recipients Recognized

A New Streetscape for 38th Avenue

Doing Battle with Dandelions

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Gazette NEIGHBORHOOD

WHEAT RIDGE | EDGEWATER | APPLEWOOD | MOUNTAIN VIEW | LAKESIDE

MAY 17 – JUNE 20, 2016

Begin Summer at the Ridge At 38 Criterium By Carolyn Doran

ome out and celebrate summer! Watch over 400 bicycle racers at the Annual Ridge at 38 Criterium and enjoy a day of family fun, live entertainment, and a Brewfest. The Ridge at 38 Criterium takes place on Sunday, June 12, on a 1.5 mile route in downtown Wheat Ridge. Begun three years ago to celebrate 30 years of cycling in Wheat Ridge; the Ridge at 38 Criterium is a USA sanctioned race, a gold-level Rocky Mountain Cup race, and a Colorado State Championship Race. Racers in a Criterium race multiple laps on a short route. The Ridge at 38 Criterium 1.5 mile course begins at Wheat Ridge Cyclery, a sponsor of the event. Ron Kiefel, owner and manager of Wheat Ridge Cyclery has a long history with bike racing. He is a former Olympic medalist, Tour de France competitor, U.S.National Road Champion, and so many more bike racing events. He was especially active in bringing the Ridge at 38 Criterium to Wheat Ridge, because Criterium races are fun and fast to race in and to watch. Racers in the Ridge at 38 Criterium travel from High Court to 35th Avenue, to Pierce Avenue, to 38th Avenue, to Reed Street, to 39th Avenue, and to High Court again. Seven categories of riders, both elite and amateurs, will race with staggered race start times from 9am to 3:30pm. Each race takes about 40 to 55 minutes. Prizes range from $100 dollars to $800 with equal purses for male and female riders. If you are interested in registering for the race,

online registration is available at https:// usacycling.org/register/2016-763. A festival for all ages and all interests will take place just west of the starting line on the grounds of Stevens Elementary School from 9am to 7pm. There will be extra parking in several locations along 38th Ave. If you choose to bike to the event there will be bike corrals by the festival entrance. There will be amazing live entertainment from Isaac Points’ Jakarta Band, playing old school funk and R&B. At least twelve microbreweries will have their special brews at the Brewfest. An Expo area will feature top area cycling companies. Tasty festival food, vendors, the Farmers and Artisan Market, and a Kid’s Zone will round out the fun. At 11:40 am, there will be a Vitruvian Fitness Community Fun Ride. Localworks is looking for sponsors for the event, which is expected to have 5,000 spectators. A variety of sponsorship packages are available, including a title sponsorship. This includes 30 VIP tickets, interviews during the race with the announcer, and mentions in advertising and banners hanging over 38th two weeks before the event. In-kind donations ranging from food for festival volunteers to beer for the Brewfest are welcomed. Celebrate a vibrant Wheat Ridge and the beginning of summer at the Annual Ridge at 38 Criterium. But watch out for those cyclists, because they are FAST! To find out more about donating, volunteering, or sponsorships contact Carolyn Doran at cdoran@wearelocalworks.org

104 Years Later, Norman’s Memorials Lives On By Elisabeth Monaghan

or more than a century, Norman’s Memorials at 7805 W. 44th Avenue in Wheat Ridge has maintained a tradition of working closely with families looking for the best way to pay homage to loved ones who have died already, are at the end of their lives, or who want to handle details before death occurs. Founded in 1912, by former quarry worker John Norman, Norman’s Memorials has been in business longer than any other establishment in Wheat Ridge. Originally located across from Riverside Cemetery in Denver, Norman’s has remained a family business since the company’s inception. When John Norman died at a relatively early age, his only child, Bob, was taken in by their neighbors, the Loxen Family. The Loxens raised Bob with their son Art and daughter Helen. Because Bob Norman was still quite young when his father died, Noah Loxen ran Norman’s Memorials. Both Bob Norman and Art Loxen grew up working at Norman’s part-time, and after Bob Norman’s death in 1962, Art purchased the company. After Art Loxen retired in 1980, his son-in-law, Warren Cobb, who had spent

several years working with Art managing the sales office, took over running Norman’s Memorials. Growing up, Warren’s sons Michael and Ron worked at Norman’s part-time. While attending college at Fort Lewis, Ron Cobb took a job with a memorial company in Durango. After graduation, Ron returned to Norman’s as a full-time employee. Then in 2004, he purchased the business from his parents. Today, Ron manages the business from Norman’s Greeley-based manufacturing plant and office. Warren Cobb, who now is semi-retired, spends about two days a week working out of the Wheat Ridge office. Over the years, not only have new companies cropped up that offer statues, marble carvings, mausoleums and other memorials, but funeral homes and cemeteries also have begun offering them. “You’ve got everybody and their brother selling memorials now,” said Warren Cobb. “The one thing we give our families is knowledge and a really personal touch, so I think we’re different from that standpoint.” As Cobb explains, the decades of experience each generation has gained working with Norman’s customers, has provided Continued on page 16

TAKING A BREAK FROM BUILDING PICNIC TABLES are WRHS students (L-R) Emily Loveland, Elicio Banuelos and Steven Ortega, with an unidentified trainer from the Colorado Construction Institute. Students worked to construct fifteen tables that were eventually decorated by local art programs. They will be auctioned oﬀ at this year’s Carnation Festival, August 12-14. PHOTO: JANE JOHNSON

Life’s a Picnic at the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival by Meghan Godby

ow that May is half over, it’s time to look ahead to the sunny days of summer. For many Coloradoans, that means more hiking, cycling, and weekend lunches on breezy restaurant patios. In Wheat Ridge, however, there’s something else to look forward to: the Carnation Festival. A beloved family tradition since 1969, the festival brings together thousands of people from our local community (over 25,000 on average). Attendees can look forward to delicious food, live music, and unique vendors. There’s entertainment for the entire family, whether you prefer daring circus feats or antique cars glittering in the mid-day sun. In the hubbub of the day’s festivities, it’s easy to forget the impact the event has at a community level. This year, you’ll see evidence of that impact in an unexpected place: a picnic table. Over the past several weeks, students from Wheat Ridge area schools have been busy building and decorating picnic tables (15, to be exact). Although the project is on a smaller scale, it’s no less real than any other construction job. There are hard hats, goggles, and hammers (don’t worry, they all went through a safety education course), complete with intent gazes and steady hands. What may surprise you, however, is that the tables, which will be auctioned off at the Carnation Festival, are not being built in shop class, but outside the classroom, during the students’ free time. The project is in partnership with the Colorado Construction Institute (CCI), an effort made possible by Chad Meyers of Jeffco Public Schools. Chad is a program specialist for the School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP), a statewide initiative that helps make employment possible and maintainable for youth throughout Colorado. Participants are anywhere from 15 to 24 years old, and many have already left the educational system. By

working with students from Wheat Ridge, Pomona, Ralston Valley, and Golden High schools, our local chapter hopes not only to break down barriers to employment, but also to help these individuals find a purposeful place within our community through education and meaningful experience. Chad is also a board member of the Wheat Ridge Community Foundation, which has a major focus on trade education. As part of his position, Chad recently attended the Think Big conference, where he met Michael Smith, co-founder of the CCI. During a discussion panel, Michael passionately discussed the significance of pre-apprenticeships and their potential ties to our modern school systems. There’s no doubt that education is important – it has the power to awaken young minds, spark creativity, and inspire new ideas. However, a curriculum is most effective when it extends beyond the classroom, helping students build real-life skills and foster relationships with professionals in our community. Impressed and inspired, Chad brought up the possibility of a partnership between CCI and area schools. Thanks to his efforts and initiative, local students will be able to broaden their horizons, gain real world experience, and explore careers in construction. Both parties were ready to hit the ground running. Spearheaded by Chad Meyers, Jane Johnson, Griff Wirth and Shelley Brunjak, the picnic table project was born out of this partnership. Jordan’s Building Center of Wheat Ridge generously donated the majority of the materials, and students have been hard at work since mid-April. The first build day, April 16, took place during a major snowstorm, but the students didn’t let that hinder their progress. Ten tables were built in the Wheat Ridge High school cafeteria that day, while the remaining five Continued on page 8

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – MAY 17 – JUNE 20, 2016 – ngazette.com

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WHEAT RIDGE CITY NEWS Wheat Ridge Fire and West Metro Fire Rescue Are Merging The merger will be operational in April 2016, with an intergovernmental agreement between both fire agencies. On October 4th, 2016 citizens of the Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District will vote on inclusion into the West Metro Fire Protection District. There will be a slight decrease in taxes for the citizens of Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District, going from a mil levy of 12.5 to 12.382. The merged fire districts will operate under the name “West Metro Fire Protection District”, also known as West Metro Fire Rescue. Wheat Ridge Fire Station #71 (3800 Upham Street) will remain open with a firefighter/paramedic staffed fire engine, a firefighter/paramedic staffed ambulance and a chief officer. This station will be called West Metro Fire Station #16. Wheat Ridge Fire Station #72 (10908 West 38th) will remain open with a firefighter/paramedic staffed fire engine. This station will be called West Metro Fire Station #17. West Metro Fire Rescue has been dispatching for Wheat Ridge Fire for several years, so there will be no change in the way 911 calls are answered. West Metro Fire Rescue’s fire and emergency apparatus staffed with firefighter/ paramedics will respond to calls in Wheat Ridge and Edgewater. West Metro Fire Rescue’s transport ambulances, also called Medic Units, will respond to medical emergency calls in Wheat Ridge and Edgewater. In the past, Wheat Ridge Fire did not provide advanced life support because of the costs for equipment, staffing, and training. West Metro Fire Rescue will now provide advanced life support and transport services to the citizens of Wheat Ridge and Edgewater. Historically, the Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District responded to fires with three fire apparatus and 11-12 firefighters. As part of the West Metro Fire Protection District the citizens of Wheat Ridge and Edgewater will experience the benefits of a seven apparatus response along with two chief officers, a safety officer, and a fire investigator totaling at least 25 firefighters. Incident commanders will have access to the entire fleet of West Metro apparatus and personnel. West Metro Fire Rescue’s Life Safety programs and services are now available to Wheat Ridge and Edgewater residents. The merger allows residents to receive additional services at a slightly reduced cost. The merger creates excellent opportunities for Wheat Ridge Firefighters that they would not have had otherwise. Wheat Ridge Firefighters will now have the opportunities to attend Paramedic school and pursue certifications to serve on special teams (Technical Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, Hazardous Materials, EMS Special Events, Wildland Firefighting, Colorado Task Force 1) Wheat Ridge Firefighters will be integrated throughout the West Metro Fire Protection District to meet the organizational needs of the entire district. Both the West Metro Fire Protection District and the Wheat Ridge Fire Protection board of directors gave consensus to move forward with the merger process after a Cooperative Services Feasibility Study was conducted by Emergency Services Consulting International (ESCI). ESCI recommended that the two fire districts combine via a merger. Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District citizens will have the opportunity to vote on the inclusion October 4th, 2016. There will be seven elected board members to serve the entire district. Directors are elected at large but must live in the district he or she is elected to represent. The seven-member board is elected by district voters and the meetings are open to the public. For more information and a list of scheduled community meetings, visit www.westmetrofire.org or call (303) 9894307 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday.

WHEAT RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

Curtis J. Gilmore Scholarship Recipients Recognized By Meghan Godby On Tuesday, May 10, hundreds of proud parents, students, and public officials gathered at Wheat Ridge High School for the annual Senior Awards Celebration. Emceed by teacher and City Treasurer Jerry DiTullio, this momentous occasion recognized the achievement of high school students within our community. As part of that celebration, the Wheat Ridge Community Foundation (WRCF) board awarded scholarships to nine deserving students, awards made possible by the Curtis J. Gilmore Lifelong Learning Scholarship fund, founded nearly three years ago to commemorate Curtis J. Gilmore, the first president of the WRCF. Thanks to a generous donation by Wheat Ridge City Council, the Wheat Ridge Garden Tour, and Mayor Joyce Jay, the WRCF was able to award seven more scholarships than last year. Scholarships were awarded to Brandy Anderson, Kristin Blea, Myles Dolan, Ky Foreman, David O’Neill, Jaimee Salbato, Serena Sims, Chelsey Vaughn, and Alex Wall. These students will go to college to pursue a variety of fields including education, health, business, law enforcement, criminal justice, and skilled trade. All students were present to receive their awards, which were presented by Councilmembers Genevieve Wooden, Tim Fitzgerald, and Zach Urban. Members of the WRCF board were also present. For Vicki Ottoson, Vice President of the Foundation, it was a proud moment. She notes, “It was rewarding for the Foundation to see these students honored at the ceremony. We are all very proud of their accomplishments and will invite them back to update us on their progress in the future.”

PARKS AND RECREATION

Are We Ready For Pesticide Free Parks? By Guy Nahmiach

The city is exploring the feasibility of maintaining our green spaces without the usage of pesticides. I'll have more about options that can be used in your homes as well. So many of my neighbors and friends here in Wheat Ridge battle against not only the weeds that attack our lawns, but also spiders and ants that invade our basements and garages. Cities across the U.S. have decided to allow the dandelions on their green spaces in exchange for safe and chemical-free parks. This changed their mowing and watering habits, keeping the lawns at three inches and reducing the watering frequency, but increasing the amount of water. This promotes stronger and deeper roots. Rocky National Park uses synthetic herbicides against specific and evasive weeds. A common version of this synthetic product is a product known as Round Up. It is by the way, the last allowed chemical product by the city of Boulder. The next step would be to use .biopesticides, which are made from animals, plants, bacteria and certain minerals. For years we used to sit on our lawn with a glass of wine and pick dandelions while catching up on life. I am not suggesting that city employees should drink on the job, but i do believe our park users would feel safer and encourage their kids to crawl and role around on the lawns, knowing that no chemicals had been sprayed. This is just the start of the conversation here in Wheat Ridge.... Stay tuned for more info as move forward. Contact Guy Nahmiach at 303-9995789 or Guy@NostalgicHomes

ngazette.com – MAY 17 – JUNE 20, 2016 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

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NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – MAY 17 – JUNE 20, 2016 – ngazette.com

WHEAT RIDGE MAYOR

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Succulents

Good Citizens Turn Lemons into Lemonade public issues. The good news is we are not alone in dealing with these civic challenges. We e all know the saying: When life have several opportunities for you, our hands you lemons, make lemonade. residents, business owners and community Well, unfortunately, I’ve had my share of stakeholders, to help take life’s lemons and lemons lately with the loss of my home in make lemonade. a fire. But, because we have such a fantastic For example, City Council recently community here in Wheat Ridge, I did not appointed a new D.I.R.T. (Drainage, Roads, have to try to make lemonade alone. I want Infrastructure, and Trails) Task to thank the good citizens of Force, comprised of two citizens the Wheat Ridge community from each City Council district. for their kind words and their These citizens are tasked with generosity; and, for reminding prioritizing D.I.R.T. projects the me that lemons make refreshing city has on the horizon. These lemonade. citizens stepped up and are Particularly, I want to thank meeting several times to talk a group of three- and fourabout the future of major city year-olds from a local daycare projects. That is being a good for hosting a lemonade stand citizen! for me last month. That small Every day, so many of you act of kindness is a symbol come together to help improve of good citizenship, a visible Joyce Jay Wheat Ridge. You serve on boards demonstration that being and commissions. You give testimony at involved in your community is a good thing. City Council meetings. You help neighbors I invited these children and their teachers to out when they are in need. I would like to City Hall to present them with Good Citizen thank each and every one of you for your Awards. City Manager Patrick Goff and contribution to our community and for the Police Chief Dan Brennan joined in, and we acts you do, big and small, that demonstrate had a delightful time. good citizenship. How can we use this lesson from our The kids who started the lemonade stand youngsters to better our community? Good inspired me. I challenge all of us, myself citizenship looks different at different included, to do even better as citizens in our stages in life, but the short answer is to get community. I will continue to work hard to involved in a positive, community-building listen more and offer more opportunities way. Wheat Ridge, like so many other local for us to talk. Come on down to a Coffee governments, faces a variety of challenges; with the Mayor and let’s see what we can whether it’s choosing which projects to do together to continue to build up Wheat move forward, maintaining and growing Ridge. Especially when life hands us lemons. our tax base to support more and better city Contact Wheat Ridge Mayor Joyce Jay, services, or the ability to engage a diverse 303-420-8533 or jjay@ci.wheatridge.co.us population of our residents in discussion on

By Joyce Jay

WHEAT RIDGE CITY COUNCIL Time to Invest in Infrastructure for Wheat Ridge

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am currently in the midst of a bathroom remodel in my 1956 Wheat Ridge home. I love my home, and I enjoy fixing it up. But in addition to the fancy new tile and faucets I bought, my remodel also includes costs I didn’t expect. Considering my home was built 60 years ago, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. As part of my remodel, I was required to upgrade my 1956 electrical service – costly and not quite as fun as the fixtures I picked out. But it’s an upgrade that’s necessary to keep my home safe and bring it up to code. In this way, the work on my home reminds me a lot of the work needed for our city. We’re enjoying the fun of new businesses and stability of new residences, but the infrastructure on which our city runs was built more than 70 years ago. It needs an upgrade to keep functioning, to sustain further development, to keep us all safe. One example includes reevaluating our storm water drainage systems, to ensure adequate capacity. An overflow would be unsafe and would damage property. Another example is repairing our sidewalks and streets, to ensure we all can walk, bike and drive safely. Also, consider the area around Clear Creek Crossing – also known as the Cabella’s site. It still needs about $40 million in infrastructure improvements before any store can open. We face a similar issue at the new Gold Line Light Rail Station off Ward Road. Our infrastructure is aging as we’re relying on it to manage more than ever. We need to prioritize what we need, both for today and for the future, and figure out how to pay for it. Our city council has had many discussions about this. Here’s what we know:

Our city sales tax is 3 percent, one of the lowest of our surrounding communities. In addition to that, retail development areas outside of Wheat Ridge, such as Belmar and Colorado Mills, also have property improvement fees, which are in addition to their cities’ sales taxes. In short, they generate much more money for infrastructure than we do, benefitting their residents and businesses. Fifty percent of the sales tax generated in our city is provided by people who do not live here. This is the significant financial benefit of making Wheat Ridge a retail and dining destination, and we need to invest in the infrastructure that will continue to attract our neighbors and their businesses. We all have experienced an increase in our property taxes, but the city actually gets very little of that. In fact, in my 2016 statement, only $54.59 went to the city and the rest went to other taxing agencies. For example, the city library receives 2.25 percent more from our property taxes than our city does. I’m happy to contribute to our library, a valuable resource for our residents, but it is interesting that as a community we’re paying less for city services, infrastructure and roads. I love my home and I love my city. I’m proud to invest in both. In the next several months, we together will engage in discussions about fiscal responsibility and sustainability, which upgrades the city needs and how to pay for them. I encourage you to become involved in this conversation. Go to KristiDavisWR.com, where I have more facts about Wheat Ridge taxes and fees compared to other cities, and then send me your suggestions at kdavis@ ci.wheatridge.co.us. Contact District II City Council Representative Kristi Davis at (303) 757-8488 or kdavis@ci.wheatridge.co.us

ngazette.com – MAY 17 – JUNE 20, 2016 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

A New Streetscape for 38th Avenue By Nancy Hahn

n 2010, 38th Avenue between Wadsworth Blvd and Sheridan Blvd was designated as a Wheat Ridge area in need of redevelopment and updating. There were good reasons for choosing this area. 38th Avenue is one of the few streets that stretch across Wheat Ridge from the east side to the west. Shopping, restaurants, parks, and other popular establishments are clustered in this area. It is a community gathering area with the annual Carnation Festival Parade and many other community activities taking place along this stretch of 38th Avenue. The community sees it as the ‘Main Street’ of Wheat Ridge and calls this area, Ridge at 38th. In the summer of 2012 a pilot project was begun to evaluate the impact of reducing a large part of 38th Avenue to only three traffic lanes with parking on the south side. Temporary planters and bike lanes were tried out. In 2014 a plan was developed to adjust a section of 38th by narrowing driving lanes to the minimum of 10 feet and adding parallel parking spaces of 6 feet wide. These changes would provide room for widened sidewalks. Voters chose to vote down the plan and a sales tax increase for project funding. While the idea of updating 38th Avenue sounded positive, Wheat Ridge business owners and residents had a number of problems with the plan. In 2015, a new process was begun to create a plan for Ridge at 38th; one that would ensure that both business owners and the community were included. We all have an image of Main Street, USA, but 38th has no consistent appearance to the street itself or to the pedestrian area. Some areas have wide sidewalks, others narrow ones, others none at all. The Cre8 your 38th process was begun to develop the concept and design to create a ‘Main Street’ streetscape. It was important that all stakeholders were able to use their voices and ideas in the creating the plan, rather than feeling a finished plan was handed to them. A process was developed to ensure the design was created by community collaboration and that consensus was established for each part of the design. The core of the Cre8 your 38th process was a series of three public meetings using 8 urban design elements: review of past planning and design, sidewalks, street furnishings (benches, trash cans, for example), lighting, traffic (number of lanes, markings…), parking, signage, and travel modes (walking, biking…). Meeting 1 at Wheat Ridge Recreation Center was scheduled for January 14, 2016. More than 300 people arrived for the meeting. Since that was more than the room’s capacity, Meeting 1A was scheduled for the following week. Participants at each meeting sat in table groups and discussed the community and what a main street should be. People wanted a place to visit with friends and neighbors, comfortable and safe sidewalks for walking, and resting spots for older people. Table groups discussed design elements, such as number of traffic lanes, and made decisions on their design. Each group presented their design to the entire meeting and participants, voting on clickers, chose whether the groups’ design should move on. One participant mentioned that it was especially nice that even though you worked in groups, you voted as an individual. If you disagreed with your groups design, you didn’t have to vote ‘yes’ to move it forward. Six of the 33 designs created received votes of 51% or more and moved forward. Viewing these designs, enables a more clear understanding of what elements are most important to Wheat Ridge. Each of the six designs featured 3 traffic lanes, for example. These designs were used to create the choices evaluated at the second meeting. At that next public meeting on February 11th, table groups were given streetscape diagrams with the three-lane street agreed on in the designs chosen in the first meetings. The rest they discussed and added to their design. What amenities

THE FIRST DESIGN CHOICE FROM THE CRE8 YOUR38TH PROCESS uses reconstruction to create 8 foot sidewalks and 4 foot amenity zones. This reconstruction could cost between $7.5 and $9.5 million dollars. should be added? Benches? Trees? How wide should the amenity zone be? What is the best width for sidewalks? To help in the decision making a life-size model had been built and possible sidewalk measurements were taped on the floor. Participants could see the difference by walking on a fourfoot sidewalk, eight-foot, or a 10-foot sidewalk. Wide sidewalks were chosen as most important by the group. Surprising to many, bike lanes were of least importance.

THE SECOND DESIGN CHOICE IS A RETROFIT. The existing street and sidewalks would be fitted with the addition of an amenity zone. The possible cost would be between $4.5 and $6.7 million dollars.

On March 10th, the last meeting, participants viewed representations of two possible designs using the choices created by participants. The first design choice uses reconstruction to create 8 foot sidewalks and 4 foot amenity zones. This reconstruction could cost between $7.5 and $9.5 million dollars. The second design choice is a retrofit. The existing street and sidewalks would be fitted with the addition of an amenity zone. The possible cost

would be between $4.5 and $6.7 million dollars. Both designs require change in the designated street width of 38th Avenue and public support for funding. Patrick Goff, Wheat Ridge city manager, discussed the funding for large projects and used the Recreation Center as an example. When the group voted on the possible choices, complete reconstruction received 70 Continued on page 7

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – MAY 17 – JUNE 20, 2016 – ngazette.com

WHEAT RIDGE TREASURER

LOCALWORKS UPDATE

Fruitdale Project Makes Progress What’s Brewing in Wheat Ridge? and since has been working to redevelop the property in a way that enhances the neighborhood and city. s City Treasurer, part of my The building was listed on the National responsibility is to ensure that the Register of Historic Places in 2013 and in City of Wheat Ridge invests as directed by February, City Council passed a resolution the City Charter and allowed by state and to move forward with the redevelopment federal law. The City’s investments can of the site into approximately take the form of money being 16 affordable and market-rate placed into interest-earning housing units. The project also accounts, in city services calls for solar arrays on the roof that benefit our residents, in and on the ground. Funding for external organizations that the project comes from a variety enhance the work of the City, of sources in addition to the City in infrastructure projects and and the WRHA, including grants, development projects. private investments and state and Every month on the City federal historic tax credits. Treasurer’s page on the City’s Since February, the website, I share a report City, WRHA and the developer regarding the City’s total funds Jerry DiTullio have signed the development and how they are invested. As of agreement. A grant application March 31, we had $11,989,508 has been submitted to the State Historical invested in CDs and bonds (our liquid Fund, requesting approximately $190,000 accounts) and in the Fruitdale Project in additional project funding and city staff Liquid Account, which currently contains is working with the developer to refine the $1.2 million. application for federal historic preservation The Fruitdale Project is an example of tax credits. Approximately $640,000 of how the City invests dollars in our city directly. federal HOME funds through Jefferson Fruitdale School, located on the north side of County Community Development has W. 44th between Kipling and I-70, was built in also been committed, contingent on the the mid-1920s to replace the schoolhouse that development occurring this year. was on the property but destroyed by fire in As you can see, when the City invests its 1926. The building was used as an elementary money in projects, we are able to leverage school until 1978 and then as a preschool until additional funds from a variety of public 2007. It has remained vacant and in need of and private sources, enhancing the value of repairs since then. the project, minimizing the city’s risk and Due to its historic nature, it was important increasing our opportunity for a positive to the City and many in our community that return on our investment. the building be preserved. The Wheat Ridge Contact Wheat Ridge City Treasurer Housing Authority (WRHA) purchased the Jerry DiTullio at 303-231-1392 building in 2011 to save it from demolition

by Jerry DiTullio

By Colleen O’Brien

it up. This event is about community, and our friends share our passion for great food, ccording to the Brewers Association, great drinks, and great people. So let's take Colorado has the 3rd most craft it to the streets and show this city what we breweries in the United States. That means are all about," said Mike Naifeh, Colorado we have over 280 breweries that produce more Plus Restaurant Manager. The Brewfest will than 1.7 million barrels of beer per year. That feature 25 beers brought to you by 12 local is a lot of beer! For those of you who can’t get breweries. The day will include enough of Colorado craft brews, we a state championship bike race, are excited to announce for the first brewfest, live music, farmers time ever we are adding a brewfest and artisan market, a kids'’ to the Ridge at 38 Criterium bike zone and more. race. We can’t forget that That means you get to spend Colorado wouldn’t have over a day in Wheat Ridge watching a 280 breweries without the professional state championship determination of passionate bike race while sampling some of brewers. In support of our the best craft brews around. amazing home brewers we are The Brewfest is presented by hosting our 3rd annual home Right Coast Pizza, Clancy’s Irish brew competition at RidgeFest Pub and Colorado Plus Brew Colleen O’Brien on September 10th. The first Pub. These three local businesses place prize is an opportunity to have your are creating a limited release collaboration beer brewed and served at Brewery Rickoli. beer just for the Ridge at 38 Criterium Bike Brewery Rickoli is Wheat Ridge’s first Race and Brewfest! This blood orange red brewery and one of Colorado’s smallest. ale, called Lance Orange Strong is a tongue They are brewing on a 3BBL system. Don’t and cheek tribute to the pairing of bikes let their size fool you. They keep all 16 of and beers. “We don't know why cycling and their taps full with big, high gravity, well beer work so well together but it just seems balanced brews. They “brew small, drink to fit. Maybe it's that both of them go better big.” with a little bit of sunshine. When we heard Contact Cobrien@WeAreLocalworks.org that our friends at Clancy's and Right Coast to sign up for our homebrew competition wanted to brew with us, we couldn't pass

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ngazette.com – MAY 17 – JUNE 20, 2016 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

UNDER THE DOME

URBAN PERSPECTIVE

2016 Legislative Session Review

Doing Battle with Dandelions

several important bills. My Equal Pay in State Contracts Act (HB16-1001) would have required businesses that receive state he second session of the 70th General contracts pay women and men equally for Assembly came to a close May 11. With a the same work. Senate Republicans also divided legislature, every bill that passed did killed my bill that would have protected so with bipartisan support. Each and every employees from retaliation if day of the session, I worked hard they discuss their wages with to support legislation that best each other. serves House District 24 and all And although my Wage of Colorado. Theft Transparency Act passed I am proud to say that I the House with strong bipartisan passed several bills this session support, it was defeated by that will increase conservation Senate Republicans. Their “no” awareness, level the playing vote provides protection for field for veterans entering the dishonest employers who are workforce and support senior caught cheating employees out citizens across Colorado. of their pay. After two years of work, So we had wins and losses, my bill to legalize rain barrels Jessie Danielson but I was brought up to know that (HB16-1005) passed and was many things worth fighting for don’t come signed into law. This commonsense bill now easily. That’s why I am more determined allows Coloradans to install barrels to catch than ever to keep fighting to protect Colorado rainwater that falls on their property, letting working families, who deserve a fair shot at homeowners conserve a little water for their economic security when powerful interests tomato plants or flowers. stack the deck against them. That’s how we I also passed a bill that will help veterans rebuild a strong Colorado middle class and a transition into the civilian workforce. This better Colorado. bill (SB16-134) ensures that the skills and It is an honor to represent you at education a vet gains while in service are the Capitol. Please contact me with any considered as qualifications when receiving comments, concerns or questions at jessie. a license from the state. This breaks down danielson.house@state.co.us or 303-866bureaucratic barriers standing between a 5522. For more information on Town Hall vet and economic security for their family. Meetings or my monthly happy hours, visit Continuing my fight against elder jessiedanielson.com. abuse, I passed HB16-1027, which will allow Jessie Danielson represents State videotaped depositions to be used in court. House District 24, which includes Golden, Criminals who prey on older Coloradans Wheat Ridge and other areas in Jefferson deserve to be brought to justice, and this County. To contact Rep. Danielson or learn bill helps preserve the evidence to lead to more, call her cell at 720-276- 3468 or visit successful convictions. www.jessiedanielson.com. Sadly, Senate Republicans killed

By Jessie Danielson

38th Avenue Continued from page 5

percent of the vote. An Open House was held on April 27th at the Recreation Center to show the final streetscape design to the public. The final design includes 3 lanes for traffic, the center being a turn lane. Sidewalks are 8 feet wide and separated from the street by, at least, a 4 foot amenity zone. There will be onstreet parking where there is room, west of High Court, for example. Feedback and questions were encouraged. Some business owners were concerned about driveways and parking lots. They were given assurance that there will be meetings to discuss and

plan as a timeline is developed. On May 16 the streetscape design was presented to City Council by city planners. Four designs were approved. Five more steps will be needed to move the project forward. First, the city council will create a budget and a schedule. Next, the council will, also, identify options for funding. Third, a consultant will be hired to prepare construction plans. Then, meetings with property and business owners will address their concerns and discuss consolidating driveways, the impact of construction, and any temporary construction easements. Finally, a contractor will be hired.

sees her brother’s act of pulling the pin on these seed grenades as pure opportunity. Ever since last summer, I have paid her a ith summert time right around the small amount to help pull up dandelions. corner, we are attempting to get the This spring she has already asked for a bump yard into shape. With kids running around in pay, and our son has been busily whacking the yard we are reluctant to spray the yard the heads off of the dandelions. with harsh chemicals to kill off Once you have weeded the weeds. That being said, we out the enemy, it is always good are interested in keeping our to bring in reinforcements. lawn free from the ubiquitous To crowd out the dandelions, dandelion. The dandelion is I have mixed into grass seed really the zombie apocalypse some white clover seeds. Clovers of weeds, as it does the most are a part of the legume family, damage after it is dead. My which actually transfers readily yard has been partially invaded available nitrogen back into the by these yellow zombies. Once soil. Mixing in clover seeds helps these dandelion flowers shrivel bring nitrogen rich nutrients up they begin to ready their back into the soil. Using clover quiver of zombie seeds. These Zachary Urban is also drought tolerant. Clover puffs of seeds are just about the grows deep roots and needs less water to perfect height for our son to kick or better stay green than grasses. yet, to pick up and blow. I have learned these tips and tricks This act is simultaneously cute and also from talking with neighbors and friends slightly terrifying, as the dandelion’s zombie whose lawn maintenance skills are honed seeds float effortlessly across our lawn. This to a greater extent than my own. I have also further sets back our battle with an unrelenting learned a tremendous amount by talking and multiplying enemy. When battling any foe with the various green thumbs at one of the it is wise to study the experts. Sun Tzu said it many greenhouses in Wheat Ridge. This is a best, “In the practical art of war, the best thing busy time of the year for these businesses, of all is to take the enemy's country whole and but if you come back to visit with them in intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good.” the fall, they will have plenty of time to Our son has not mastered this skill of leaving discuss how best to grow your best lawn yet. these puffs intact. Zachary Urban can be reached at 720 In my battle against this enemy I have 252-5930 or www.zacharyurban.com. enlisted our daughter's help. Our daughter

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FITNESS CORNER Avoiding a Mile High Meltdown Psychologists call this a fight or flight zone. We are designed by nature to do one of the two options (a third option rarely spoken oes living in our city get you a little about is freeze). We can use what the body stressed out from time to time? I has given us if we want to do the first two suppose it’s not just the high altitude options. They will definitely help if we’re that gets our heart racing and gives us a getting picked on by the schoolyard bully or shortness of breath. For the majority of us, if we are getting chased by a bear. it comes with an elevated sense on stress as The good news is once the well. predator, or the aggressor, are Today we’re going to focus no longer threatening, one’s on what causes a Mile High hormone and blood sugar level Meltdown, what it does to your will return to normal. body and a simple list of things What happens if the stressor you can do to minimize your sticks around longer than a worries. 30-second brawl or a threeMerriam Webster defines minute sprint out of the forest? stress as a state of mental tension What happens to our body then? and worry caused by problems in This puts you at increased your life, work, etc. risk of numerous health Okay, simple enough. A problems, including anxiety, list of our stressors could be David Diaz a weakened immune system, your skyrocketing rent, the daily depression, digestive problems, headaches, commute, one’s deadline, a lack of sleep, heart disease, sleep problems, weight gain, a pending divorce, or maybe it’s your busy memory and concentration impairment. schedule, delinquent payments, pollution, So let’s look at what we can do to remedy time management, lack of job security, those long-term stressors. corrupt politicians, body image, fear, self Mediation, exercise, healthy choices worth, mass shootings...the list goes on and when eating, yoga, fostering healthy on. relationships, expressing yourself, The good news about these anxiety volunteering in your community, filled situations is our body is built to handle maintaining a good sense of humor, hiking. these conditions. Remember also that stress is simply a What actually happens inside our body state of mind and as easily as it has entered, when a dog startles us on our afternoon you can control it as well. walk? First, our hypothalamus sets off our Now that I am getting the article internal alarm system and a gland releases submitted just before the deadline, I think adrenaline and cortisol. Next, our heart I’ll go for a nice run to reset my system. Stay rate and blood pressure increase. Glucose healthy amigos! is also released into our bloodstream and David Diaz is the owner-operator of Fitness other systems like digestion get shut down Together Edgewater temporarily.

By David Diaz

Picnic Tables Continued from page 1

tables were built at CCI on May 6. Once the pieces have been fully decorated, all fifteen will be auctioned off at the Carnation Festival August 12-14. Proceeds will be cycled back into the community, benefitting local for schools. Hands-on learning is beneficial for KRISTEEGARDIN.COM anyone, but can be particularly meaningful kris@kristeegardin.com | 720.568.0461 for high school students. As Chad notes, “this build is taking place during the students’ free time. They are donating their time and efforts to the community, benefitting from real hands-on practical learning that could help them to see the benefits of staying engaged in school.” And what do the students think? According to Jane Johnson, they’re enthusiastic. “The students in my classes are excited about getting an opportunity to build. I have a lot of students who are not sure what

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they want to do when they leave high school, so this project will show them more about the construction industry.” This building project is just the beginning, however. A Construction Career Based Learning class will begin at Wheat Ridge High School later this fall. The program aims to help students explore careers in construction, given them ample opportunity for safety education and construction experience. By enrolling in this program, students can lay the foundation for a career in construction and potentially earn college credit in the process. The Colorado Construction Institute is reaching further in our community, partnering with the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver (HBA) to create a program called Building Pathways, which intends to help students across the metro area explore and prepare for construction careers. With all the new developments popping up around town, the timing couldn’t be better. As Michael Smith points out, “residential construction represents the largest sector of construction employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in Colorado. [We] are excited to partner with area schools to bring these opportunities to the next generation of construction professionals.” Thanks to these meaningful partnerships, students throughout Wheat Ridge will be building a strong future from the ground up.

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ngazette.com – MAY 17 – JUNE 20, 2016 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

EDGEWATER MAYOR I Am Sick and Tired of War By Kris Teegardin “I am sick and tired of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those that have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell.” -William Tecumseh Sherman

fter the Civil War, Union soldiers started Decoration Day honoring the fallen by decorating their graves with flowers and flags. Over time, this practice became the holiday we know as Memorial Day. It is with great solemnity and humility that we honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice so our nation may endure. It has been some time since our continent has been visited by this plague, but the scars remain. It can be seen on the faces of the pale graves placed so neatly in rows upon rows across our nation. It can be seen on the faces who have borne the brunt of combat overseas that know all too well what Sherman said years ago. The lasting tragedy is the destructive forces unleashed upon families and peoples alike, upon countries and civilizations. History attests to such struggles and continues to this day. I often wonder if our humanity will ever come to the realization that our very human struggles may be solved without conflict and violence. Will we ever see a

time where we celebrate our similarities and not our differences? Will we see a time that we unequivocally accept and share in the common struggles of life and death? We are now on the precipice of major events, and we as a nation must make these choices now. Because humanity has not turned its back upon violence, it is imperative we conduct ourselves with nobility and integrity in our diplomatic relations. As the seal of the president of the United States displays, the eagle not only faces to its right – the direction of honor – but also toward the olive branches of peace which it holds in its right talon. Formerly the eagle faced toward the arrows in its left talon – arrows, symbolic of war. I feel the eagle has once again turned its face toward the arrows. Every day I question the motives of our foreign policy, its aims, and the outcomes we desire as a free people. If we must fight, so be it. Not for the profit of the few and their ignoble aims, but for the Liberty of all peoples. If we cannot fully share in the struggles of war and peace, we have found no justice but that wielded by the sword. As we continue in the prosecutions of our global duties, let us remind ourselves it is better to win the peace, than enforce the peace. Happy Memorial Day. Contact Edgewater Mayor Kris Teegardin at 720-568-0461 or kteegardin@ edgewaterco.com.

EDGEWATER CITY COUNCIL What Makes a City Walkable? By Myra Keeble

eventy-Five. That’s Edgewater’s Walk Score on walkscore.com, a public database that calculates a community’s walkability. Although a 75 technically means “very walkable,” my first reaction was disbelief and then defensiveness. How dare they assign us a score that low, I thought. After all, everyone talks about how walkable our city is. We can easily walk to the grocery store, the post office, Sloan’s Lake, public transportation and several neighborhood eateries. And because a community’s walkability has been attributed to greater exercise, lower rates of obesity, healthier populations, higher property values and economic performance, it is important to me that our city be considered walkable. So is Edgewater walkable or not? We are walkable…sort of. On the plus side, most of our community is within a short walk to many amenities. We have sidewalks on tree-lined streets, and most blocks do not have excessive traffic congestion or busy intersections. And in our business district, many of our storefronts have awnings which provide shade. We are updating our ADA ramps on every corner block, and continue to work at smoothing out

EDGEWATER AT 25TH & SHERIDAN

many of our uneven sidewalks. On the other hand, we have some issues. On May 7th, Healthier Edgewater and Jefferson County Public Health conducted a “walk audit” near Lumberg Elementary School. Local volunteers armed with clipboards and score sheets reviewed several blocks between 22nd and 26th Avenue. They rated the sidewalks, intersections, traffic patterns, bus stops, signage, aesthetics, and accessibility ramps. Although data is still being analyzed, discussions about conditions included concerns that many of our sidewalks are too narrow. We noted bushes that completely covered the sidewalks, found crosswalks in need of repainting, and noted places near schools where the crossings could be made safer and more accessible. Our goal is to use this data for grant funding to make improvements. We hope to work with our school district to obtain funds to improve key crosswalks and intersections and hopefully widen some sections of the most frequently used walking routes. Although this is a small step for just one section of the city, our hope is that this will lead to new policies around pedestrian safety in the future. Contact Edgewater Councilwoman Myra Keeble at myrakeeble@edgewaterco.com

Market & Music Logo Contest! Over the past few months The City of Edgewater has been collaborating with a group of residents to give the farmers market a fresh new look. With that comes, another Logo Contest! Edgewaters new Market & Music Event (formally Edgewater Farmers Market) will be kicking off this June and needs YOUR HELP! The community has asked for a much needed revamp of the Market, so with that and the help of a few local groups The Market is taking on a new shape, a new location and most of all new additions! The event will provide a great mix of local vendors, music and activities for everyone to enjoy. The new location will be between Sheridan and Ames on 25th Ave. every Thursday from June 30th through September 8th (possibly longer). All designs must be electronically submitted to Joie Iten by Friday, May 27th at 3pm in a jpeg, TIFF or PDF format. Email to: Joie@jnjremax.com Artist must sign over all rights of the logo and any artwork to the City of Edgewater. Artwork must be original. All submissions will be judged and the final logo design will be selected by the Market & Music planning group. Winner of contest will receive a $150 gift card* and also be recognized as logo designer on initial year publications using the new logo. New name ideas also welcome. Event Specifics: Thursday nights from 5pm – 8pm, June 30th – September 8th. Event held on 25th Ave. between Sheridan Blvd. and Ames St. from 5pm – 8pm. *To be determined.

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NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – MAY 17 – JUNE 20, 2016 – ngazette.com

Focus on Wheat Ridge Business

WHAT’S HAPPENING Wadsworth Widening Public Scoping Open House

2016 Passport to Health Program

The public is invited to participate in a Public Scoping Open House on May 25th from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. to kick off the Wadsworth Boulevard Widening Project’s Environmental Assessment (EA) study and Access Management review. The location for the meeting is the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 7500 W. 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge. The Scoping meeting will share project information and offer an opportunity for the public to help identify issues the project team should examine during the Study.

Flesher-Hinton relocates its prestige to Wheat Ridge By Benjamin Hollenbeck Flesher-Hinton, Wheat Ridge’s newest addition, has over 60 years in the business and is the second oldest music store in the state of Colorado. With a grand opening currently being planned for the summer, Flesher-Hinton sells instruments, sheet music, and accessories while providing affordable private music lessons, rentals and instrument repair. Located off 44th Avenue just west of Sheridan, between Fenton Street and Gary Street, you’ll find this music sanctuary, now exclusive to Wheat Ridge. Originally just starting off repairing music instruments for local schools, Mel Flesher and his brother in-law Carl Hinton opened for business in 1951. Shortly after passing away in the 80’s, Mel’s wife Geraldine took over, until eventually handing it down to her two children and current owners, Herve and Kristi Flesher. Colorado native Dave Sampskins, who works at Flesher-Hinton, sits down and we start sharing stories about music classes in college. Dave, who grew up and still plays the bass, reminisced about getting his first instrument in third grade at Flesher-Hinton. Although the freshest staff member, he says the average employee has worked at Flesher-Hinton for over 20 years. Ecstatic about their new location, which offers more space in a less compact and sophisticated layout, he says another big factor was choosing the right neighborhood that had a strong sense of community much like where they were previously located. They particularly enjoy their new straightforward storefront and parking lot, opposed to the confusing and difficult situation they had before. It didn’t help that teachers and customers found their old location to be arduous to get to. Despite that, their success has been a unique combination of a expertise, experience, professionalism, and affordability, topped off with friendly customer service. After the interview, Dave was handing out stickers and Jeff offered me a free t-shirt from a stack they had left over from an event. The old adage rings true; Age ain’t nothing but a number at Flesher-Hinton, so stop by if you need to get your trumpet fixed, someone in your family is in the market for an instrument, or you just need to pick up some reeds for your son’s sax. Located at 5890 W 44th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO 80212, they are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9am to 6pm. They’re also open Wednesday 9am to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 4pm and closed on Sundays. Join us in welcoming them to the neighborhood because after all they’re not just the 2nd oldest music store in Colorado, they’re a local tradition. COURTESY OF

For more information, contact Mark Westberg, projects supervisor, at 303-2352863 or mwestberg@ci.wheatridge.co.us

League of Women’s Voters Holds Public Meetings May 24-26 Members of the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Jefferson County will review the recent Legislative year at its six public unit meetings May 24-26. The League’s Legislative Action Committee and staff lobbyist Christine Watson followed more than 100 bills through the Colorado General Assembly this year. Bills covered voting rights, gun control, health care, higher education, children’s issues, fiscal opportunity, income assistance and reproductive choice. Learn how new laws will affect you. The League meets in Arvada at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, at the Arvada Elks Lodge, 5700 Yukon St. 80002. Call Becka at 303-421-1853 for more information. An evening meeting also is available; call 720-254-5741

Teller Street Gallery Announces Summer Art Classes for Kids & Teens The Teller Street Gallery will offer art classes for children on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the months of June and July. • Classes for children ages 3-5 are $15 and will run from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. • Classes for children ages 6-10 are $25, or $135 for six classes and will run from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. • Classes for children ages 11+ are $25, or $135 for six classes and will run from will run from 2:15 – 4:15 p.m. For more information, visit www.Teller streetgallery.com, or call 303-424-9273

Starting May 16th, older adults in and around the Edgewater, Wheat Ridge, Lakewood areas will be able to sign up for the 2016 Passport to Health program, which is FREE and encourages seasoned adults (60 years+) to get out this summer and try something new, continue a pastime they have always enjoyed and enjoy the beautiful summer months of Colorado! For this year’s incentive, we will be giving each senior who signs up for the program their passport to check off and a pedometer to measure the number of active steps they put in each week. Participants will also receive a Step Tracker and will have the opportunity to turn in their charted steps in mid- August for the chance to win a very large gift card to a local merchant. The rest of the participants that submit a steps card will be automatically be entered for our random drawings, all of which will be announced and celebrated at the City of Edgewater’s End of Summer Picnic and Concert on Saturday, August 27th at 6:00 p.m. in Citizen’s Park (roughly 24th Ave and Chase Street). At the picnic, Colorado Senior Connections will have a booth with information about programs and services available to those over 60 and we will also be having a photo booth for our patrons to come bring their grandkids and enjoy a free photo on behalf of our Grandparents Must Be Supervised program. To register for the Passport to Health program, you can visit any one of the following locations to get your welcome pack and pedometer, starting Monday, May 16th. Locations to register are: City of Edgewater Municipal Building, City of Wheat Ridge Municipal Building, Edgewater Plaza Apartments in the Colorado Senior Connections Edgewater Office, and the Towne Center Apartments in the Colorado Senior Connections WR Office. For more information, contact Felica Goett, goett@jewishfamilyservice.org or 720763-3042

Study Shows Wheat Ridge One of Easiest Places to Sell Homes There’s good news for folks looking to sell their home in Wheat Ridge: a recent study ranked it among the easiest places in Colorado to sell. SmartAsset, a New Yorkbased financial technology company ranked cities in the US by the number of days their homes spend on the market. The rankings are a factor in SmartAsset’s second annual Healthiest Housing Markets study which includes factors of Risk,

Stability, and Affordability in addition to Ease of Sale. For an interactive map of the Healthiest Housing Markets and more details regarding the study and methodology, you can visit the website: https:// smartasset.com/mortgage/mortgagecalculator?year=2016#map

ATATs Hosts Bikes & Books For Kids The Wheat Ridge ATATs conducted a Bike & Books for Kids WRPD, and community members donated over 50 bikes that were fixed and spiffed up for redistribution on May 14 to families in need through Kullerstrand, Pennington and Family Tree. Thanks to their generous program partners (WRPD, Lutheran, WR Cyclery and others), the WR ATATs provided a helmet, lock and light with each bike along with a safety check. On May 13, a dozen volunteers including Scott Brink [WR Public Works Director] delivered 900 books to Kullerstrand by bike for a special "Ride for Reading" event. Each student gets to pick three books to take home, a sticker and other little goodies to encourage staying mentally and physically active this summer. Learn how the city, businesses and volunteers are working together to invest in a healthy community. For more information, visit www.WalkBikeRide.net

Artists Sought for Wheat Ridge Studio Tour Fine artists with studios in Wheat Ridge are invited to apply for participation in the 2016 Wheat Ridge Studio Tour, slated for Saturday, Aug. 27. The success of last year's initial tour persuaded the Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission to continue affording residents a chance to experience the wide number and variety of artists in our city. Interested artists must have a working studio in Wheat Ridge and be willing to open it to visitors from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the day of the tour. Artists engaged in painting, drawing, photography, pottery, jewelry making, sculpture and other fine arts are encouraged to apply. Completed applications, along with two photographs of the studio and two images of the artist’s work, are due June 1. Artists will be selected and notified by June 15. To receive an application or for more information, contact Milly Nadler at 303319-0690 or millynadler@gmail.com

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WHAT’S HAPPENING ages of 6-12 an opportunity to explore a wide and rich range of art materials including everything from clay to fabric. Classes meet for one week in either the morning from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. or in the afternoon from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Students may also stay for lunch between the two sessions. Classes combine multiple subjects such as math, art and science to create a truly rewarding learning experience. All camps are being held at Stevens Elementary school, next door to Wheat Ridge Cyclery. For complete days, times, descriptions or to register visit www.SweetRidge Studios.com

Jeffco Library Foundation’s Spring Used Book Sale Takes Place June 3-5 The 2016 Spring Whale of a Used Book Sale will be June 3-5 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. • Preview Night will be Thursday, June 2 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. (Only “Friends” can attend Preview Night and get first pick of the books. To become a “Friend,” call Sarah at 303-403-5078, or visit http:// jeffcolibraryfoundation.org.) • For a $10 fee, eager shoppers can enter at 8 a.m. Friday, June 3. Doors will open to the public on Friday at 9 a.m., which is free of charge. The sale is open until 5 p.m. on Friday. • Saturday, June 4, is half-price day for teachers, active military and Friends of the Library. Don’t forget to bring your ID, as you can’t get this exclusive deal without them. The sale is open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday. • Sunday, June 5, is bag day. Just $6 can buy one grocery-sized bag of books. Doors open at 11 a.m. on Sunday and close at 3 p.m. For information visit libraryfoundation.org.

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Colorado Carvers Club Auction Taking Place June 12 The Colorado Carvers Club will be hosting their annual auction, June 12 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, starting at 1:00 pm. Items for auction include unique hand carvings, tools and accessories and will be displayed for viewing beginning at 12:00pm. Admission is free and the public is welcome to participate. More information is available at www. coloradocarvers.org or Hank Koehler at 303.984.6233

Two Cases of Rabies Confirmed in Jefferson County Jefferson County Public Health has confirmed that two skunks tested positive for rabies in one week. Both skunks were reported by citizens and euthanized by Jefferson County Animal Control. There were no known exposures to animals or people. The first skunk was found

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in Arvada near Sheridan and 70th Avenue. The second was found near Highway 93 and 58th Avenue just north from the City of Golden. Now that rabies has been found in terrestrial animals within the county, any domestic animal encounter with any wild animal will be treated like an exposure to a rabid animal. Domestic animals with expired rabies or without any rabies vaccinations will be classified as high risk and be required to undergo a 180-day quarantine. “These rabies cases are of concern and offer a good opportunity to remind people that having dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies is an easy and effective way to protect pets and humans from this deadly disease,” said Dave Volkel, environmental health specialist with Jefferson County Public Health’s Zoonosis Program. “We also encourage the owners of horses, cattle and other livestock to consult with their veterinarians regarding rabies vaccination.” Rabies is caused by a virus that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals and is nearly always fatal. The virus is shed in the saliva of infected animals. People or animals can get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal or from a rabid animal’s saliva if it comes in contact with their eyes, nose, mouth or open wounds. Immediate medical treatment is required after exposure to an infected animal. Skunks, bats, foxes, raccoons and other wildlife should not be handled or fed to prevent exposure to this virus. In addition to rabies vaccinations for pets and livestock, there are additional precautions to prevent possible exposure to rabies: • Avoid contact with any wild animals, especially any that act unusually. A healthy wild animal will generally avoid human contact. • Teach children to stay away from all wild animals, stray domestic pets, or any dead animals and tell an adult if they are scratched or bitten • Wildlife suffering from rabies will often be out during the day, act aggressively and violently approach people or pets. Rabid wildlife might also stumble or have trouble walking • Do not let pets roam freely, since this can increase the chance that they could be exposed without your knowledge • Contact your veterinarian if your dog or cat is bitten or scratched by a wild animal • If a person has been bitten or scratched by a wild mammal, they should wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, seek immediate medical attention and also notify their local public health agency. Prompt medical treatment is the key to preventing rabies after a possible exposure • Do not feed wild animals, since this reduces their natural fear of humans • Do not leave pet food or livestock feed outside or feed more than your outdoor pet will finish in one feeding

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enough in schools. Teaching the curriculum is only half the battle. In my opinion, a personal relationship must be established to service students to the maximum capacity. I know college will not have such a welcoming environment, but as Ms. Landon showed with me, people are more motivated when they are in the driver's seat and using passion as the gas pedal. This brings me to last big issue of furthering education with college. If you were to take it back 70 years, people thought it was crazy for the United States to push for a more mandatory high school education. In retrospect we were one of the smartest nations because of this. Now, I believe the high school diploma is becoming more of an expectation than an accomplishment. Slowly, college is turning into this very thing. One of my favorite teachers, Adam Goudge, told me, “People can’t just go and work after high school and support themselves like they used to.” This hit me because unless you have a connection to get your foot in the door, there are not a lot of jobs right out of high school. You are kind of forced into the collegiate system to find success. I think if society keeps up these demands, there will be an increase supply for doctors and high skilled laborers, and a shortage of demand for positions that carry substantial value such as plumbers, electricians, mechanics. I have always kind of thought of this issue like there must always be someone to buy the burger, and there must always be someone to flip it.

By Alexander Rea

y the time you read this, my high school experience will be over. With this my perspective of being a student in K-12 schools shall be dwindling. I would though, like to look at some lasting issues as the vitality of my journey decreases. High school, as always, has a selfdetermined value. What I mean is that most people go through high school and optimize its value in which way they see fit. The societal favorite path of straight A’s has to be most respectable, but I don’t know if I’d like to fit in that rubric. I usually aim for the C category (not really aim, but my effort reflect such grades), mostly because school has never been my main focus. I played baseball my first three years of high school. Though that is no excuse for par grades, it still took up time. I also enjoyed hanging out with my friends, so school was among my priorities, but not necessarily the dictator of the hierarchy. The few places I dedicated pure focus had to be newspaper and classes with intriguing teachers. My sophomore year English class is likely to be the most monumental origin of my high school track record. This marked the meeting of Kay Landon. Ms. Landon soon turned into one of my biggest influences to date. On top of being a fantastic teacher, she steered me towards joining the school newspaper and discovering a hidden passion. Being the adviser of the publication, Ms.Landon continued to push me in the right direction by doing one thing, treating me like an adult. As much as we teenagers complain about responsibility, we love being treated as adults. I fear this practice is not apparent

Alex Rea is a senior/junior at Wheat Ridge High School, and the Editor-in-Chief of its student publication, the Wheat Ridge Haystack

A PET PRIMER Pet Abuse? Not Me poop, pee, hear or see comfortably. When we told the owner the dog needed to be shaved or we would hand it over to animal control, he angrily changed his mind. These types of pet owners don’t like others telling them their treatment of their pet is abuse. Because the pet’s misery is often prolonged when they are neglected like the dog brought to our shop, they can suffer just as much as animals that are deliberately harmed. While some people see the rules made by government as too strident to follow, they are in place to protect animals. If you don’t have pets and think this has nothing to do with you, think again. There is a well-documented link between animal cruelty and all manner of other crimes, including battery and violence against people. Through education and help from the many nonprofits, people’s consciousness is raising and change is slowly occurring. In addition, animal cruelty and neglect is finally getting the attention of law enforcement and prosecutors and this attention is essential in protecting animals and the community. “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated,” said Mahatma Ghandi. In Wheat Ridge, call 303235-2926 to report animal cruelty or neglect.

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nimal cruelty can be either deliberate abuse or simply the failure to take care of an animal properly. Either way animals can suffer terribly and sometimes slowly. Deliberate cruelty may involve beating, shooting or stabbing animals, or setting them on fire. A woman whose dog we groomed several years ago put her little Yorkie in a pot on the stove and attempted to cook it. The owner was later found to be insane. In other cases, people may take out their anger on a pet. According to Lynn Kimbrough with the Denver district attorney’s office, a man was “arguing with his girlfriend when he picked up her 1-month-old kitten and threw it to the floor last year.” He was charged with one count of aggravated cruelty to animals. The kitten died. In a similar case, a Pueblo man received just over two years in prison. Neglect is not giving an animal necessary food, water, shelter or vet care, and shall I add, not having the dog groomed. If neglected long enough this is cruelty as well. Last week we groomed a dog (unfixed, no tags, no registration or identification) whose owner only wanted the dog bathed, the bangs cut and his little behind cleaned up – wishing to keep his matted fur intact. The dog’s coat was full of Cheetos and debris and every orifice was matted making it difficult for him to

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their kids elsewhere. The reasons of course vary but the facts remain. The facility master plan also includes hen the district announced moving all 6th graders into a revamped 6-8 community meetings to discuss middle school. This last change is proposed building larger schools and eliminating whether a bond passes or not. With Everitt at some of our smaller neighborhood schools, only a 52% capacity, there is an opportunity some people cried, accusing the district of to increase resources for both students shutting down "poor" schools and promoting and teachers, thus benefitting the entire "wealthy" neighborhoods. community. Now before While that might sound like your head explodes from all of a powerful message, the reality these proposed changes, please is the opposite. Kullerstrand note that community meetings Elementary, for example, sits in are coming our way. This is an Wheat Ridge's highest income per opportunity to make your voice capita district (#3), yet only 37% of heard. Held on Saturday June families belonging to that school 4th at Stevens Elementary (8 a.m. area actually enroll there. Some - 10-a.m.), Monday June 6th at travel a mile away to Prospect Golden High-school (6:00 p.m.Valley Elementary. Others travel 8:00 p.m.) and Wednesday June to charter schools nearby. What 8th at Wheat Ridge High (6:00 happened to supporting your Guy Nahmiach p.m.- 8:00 p.m.). neighborhood schools? The fact is For more please go to that this school has operated at less jeffcopublicschools.org, and don't forget, if than 50% capacity for over 10 years. you don't participate, you don't get a right to The plan calls for the closing of complain. It is interesting to note, however, Kullerstrand and the Prospect Valley (PV) that when this topic was brought up last year, buildings as we know them and housing it was blamed on an "evil" school board. Yet, both groups in one new building. Updated here we are a year later, past elections and a technology, allowing students to test at the brand new board, and we are still talking about same time. Proper classrooms with doors moving schools and students. Sometimes the that keep classrooms quiet. Gymnasiums reality of economics transcends all political could have wood floors instead of carpet, and allegiances. for PV, it would finally replace the original With only a handful of days left on 1968 carpet still found in every classroom. the school calendar, I noticed a wonderful The pairing of schools will also happen with project that Dylan brought home from his Viviane and Stober, with a new large building. math teacher. One of the most important, When Viviane Elementary operates at useful and eye-opening assignments for any a mere at 53% utilization level, while Stober student: Choosing a college. What career will is at 99% and Prospect Valley at a wallyou follow? The cost of running a household, busting 103%, it explains how the elementary saving for a mortgage, paying rent, utilities buildings in our articulation area have room and groceries per-week; an in-depth analysis for 3359 students but hold only 2641. Our of budgeting; calculating interest on credit middle school accommodates 811 seats, but cards; managing your spending habits and only has 425 students, and finally, our high being financially responsible. This is an school built for 1703 students, only has 1309 amazing assignment that prepares kids for walk through its doors every day. While this life. Financial literacy and the US citizenship shows a gross misuse of our facilities and a test should be mandatory for every student in waste of valuable dollars, it begs the question, our schools. Thank you. Ms. Gould! "what happened to all our students?" Well Stay tuned for updates on school year that's easy.... While public schools have been recaps and more news regarding the facility growing in the low single digits, charter master plan. schools have been exploding in double-digit As always, thanks for reading. enrollment all over the state. Those same Contact Guy Nahmiach at 303-999families that move into Wheat Ridge and fly 5789 or Guy@NostalgicHomes the neighborhood school’s flag actually enroll

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care and the ability to recover in the comfort of your own home. • Get back to your life faster - you will be up and moving the day or surgery and able to adapt to your real-life activities faster. • Pain control - a spinal anesthesia is used for the procedure, and post-operative pain is managed through a variety of medications. • Decreased risk of infection and other problems that can result from a hospital stay. Not everyone wants or is right for sameday joint replacement. Patients must be in good overall health, without chronic disease or dependence on narcotics for pain control. Those who are good candidates for the surgery attend a pre-surgery education class, so they know just what to expect, in addition to meeting with a physical therapist and other pre-admission requirements. If you suffer from osteoarthritis or injury in a knee or hip, there are many good therapies available to improve or manage your condition. See your doctor or an orthopedic specialist to see what might help to avoid joint replacement surgery. But rest assured that if you do need surgery, there are several alternatives to suit your specific needs. Dr. Ian Weber is an orthopedic surgeon and total joint specialist at Lutheran Medical Center and Cornerstone Orthopedics

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NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS BEAT Fathers and Sons Doing Business in Wheat Ridge By Vicki Ottoson

appy Father’s Day to these and all father-owned businesses in Wheat Ridge.

B&F Tires: Hank Stites Hank Stites opened B&F Tire on 38th Avenue in 1954 in the same building where the store is currently located. A few years later, he added a 30 x 35-foot addition to house the re-tread molds. In the early years, the business sold tires wholesale to filling stations and did work for national rubber companies. B&F would use new rubber compounds on retreaded tires that were then track-tested. Eventually, Hank started testing his own line of retreaded drag racing slicks. He went to racetracks associated with the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) to work with the racing teams to perfect the performance of B&F branded retreads. Hank explains, “In those days there were a lot of little tracks where you could build your own car and attend national meets.” He traveled to tracks as far away as Pomona, California, Minnesota and Oklahoma. The retread business was a mainstay at B&F for the first thirty years until “you could buy new tires cheaper than you could retread them.” At one time, B&F Tire held a contract to retread all the cars in the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. Hank appreciates the opportunity he had as a small business owner to become involved in “things to do with the city.” Serving as Mayor for 10 years after being appointed to fill a vacancy, afforded Hank the enjoyment of working with others. He also served on the board of two local banks that eventually were acquired by larger banks: Lakeside National Bank and the Union Bank & Trust Advisory Board. Hank served on the board of the National Tire Association headquartered in Washington, DC and was also president of the one-time Lions Club of Wheat Ridge. Looking back, one of Hank’s proudest accomplishments was helping launch the Wheat Ridge Chamber of Commerce. Before it merged with the Lakewood Chamber, the Wheat Ridge Chamber boasted 425 business members. At that time, telephone companies and other big businesses that did business with the city, participated in the local economy by being members of the city chamber. Another fond memory for Hank was helping organize the first Carnation Festival. The committee was thrilled to get a donation of $500 from the Chamber of Commerce. They also sold cases of straw hats to businesses to make money and ran vendor booths along High Court. The story goes: the committee charged some kids who ran a booth the same entrance fee that the other vendors paid, but decided they had “miscalculated the fees,” after they realized

the kids were going to owe money rather than make money on their participation. The first Carnation Festival Parades accepted only entries that featured live carnations. Hank fondly recalls the time he and his wife Betty served as Count and Countess and also the beautiful flower shows that Barb Davis, mother of City Councilmember Kristi Davis, organized, where the high school gymnasium “was totally filled with flowers of all kinds.” At that time Wheat Ridge was “full of greenhouses and judges would pick winners and gardeners would show off their produce.”

B&F Tires: Mike Stites Mike Stites, son of Hank and Betty Stites, joined the tire business full-time during the re-tread era. It seems like just yesterday that Mike was buffing the tread off used tires, adding a specially-formulated rubber compound, placing the tires in tread molds and baking them at 350-degrees for 45-minutes to an hour. Mike was promoted to “Head of the Racing Division,” during the period when speedways and drag races were all the rage in the metro area--roughly 1947 to 1988. At the Englewood and Lakeside Speedways as well as the Continental Divide and Thunder Road Raceways, Mike worked directly with race teams setting up demos of B&F Racing Slicks that lead to sponsor agreements. B&F also manufactured a special tread for slicks used on the old dirt track at the Colorado National raceway in Erie/Dacono, CO that has been operational since 1965. Auto racing legend Parnelli Jones sold B&F Slicks for dirt tracks out of his stores in California. B&F Tires sold their retread operation shortly before the tire sizes changed. Tread molds cost about $5,000 each and B&F manufactured over 30 different treads. While Hank and Mike both spent time at the track, the closest they came to actually racing a dragster was when Mike drove the “hot laps” to warm up the dragsters. The Stites sponsored many cars including cars owned by Tak Shiramizu that were nicknamed “Tak’s Toys.” Tak was inducted into the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006. Today, B&F Tires does front-end work along with four-wheel alignment, brakes, balance and rotation and oil changes. B&F services all lines of tires, most with same day-service. B&F Tire Company, 6915 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033, 303-421-2063, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday - Friday; 7:00 a.m. to Noon Saturday

Personal Achievement Martial Arts, Korey Stites Maybe if B&F Tires had stayed in the racing business, Korey Stites would have had the opportunity to work his way up from collecting pop cans at the race track to

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becoming “Head of the Racing Division” like his dad, Mike. He did follow in his father’s footsteps to the University of Northern Colorado. Both quit school in their Junior years: while Mike went to work full-tme at B&F Tire, Korey, after changing his major from history to martial arts, took his life savings—$17,000—and purchased a failing karate franchise in Lafayette, Colorado. With an offer of free rent for six months and waived franchise fees, Korey turned the school around, sold it in June of 2006 and married his wife Sara in one month later in July and then went back to school and completed a BA in History with a Minor in Business at Metropolitan State, followed by a Masters in Organizational Leadership. He used his martial arts studio as the focus of his applied master’s degree. A graduate of Wheat Ridge High School in 2001, Korey says he learned more from high school business teacher, Tommy Dowd, than he did in his master’s program. He also says he became interested in civics and history as a result of becoming acquainted with civic, politics and government from his dad’s and Grandpa’s involvement in Wheat Ridge city government. His favorite historical period was American history from the 1930’s through the 1940’s, including World War II. After selling his first karate school, in 2010 Korey opened a second school, Personal Achievement Martial Arts, at Youngfield and I-70 in the old Camping World building north of 38th Avenue. Korey’s wife Sara, who holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt, is also an instructor at Personal Achievement Martial Arts, when she’s not teaching elementary school. Their combined business, organization and education backgrounds have helped Personal Achievement Martial Arts become a highly rated karate school, where they focus on both kids and adults. They have programs for all ages, three-and-a-half and up through adult. Currently the school has over 200 students split into the many class levels where the

emphasis is on kids being great students and people as well as karate students. They also offer school fundraiser classes where the elementary school keeps every dollar raised. Fifty students from Prospect Valley completed a fundraising program a couple weeks ago. Personal Achievement Martial Arts is open every day except Sunday. Classes are offered at varied times throughout the week, and students train an average of twice a week. For Father’s Day, Personal Achievement is offering a four-week Beginners Course for $49.00 per person. This offer includes the $49.00 uniform at no additional charge. The training covers basic punching and kicking, four basic positions, “7 Magic Words,” and “Four Laws of Concentration.” After the four week course the tuition is monthly, and discounts for families are available. Personal Achievement Martial Arts, 4076 Youngfield St., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033, 720287-3796, staff@wheatridgema.com

3Zero3 Motorsports, Scott Simpson Scott Simpson is a “first generation Colorado business owner and a thirdgeneration car addict.” Scott’s grandfather liked to watch car races on the high-banked, board-planked oval tracks that were popular in the 1920’s and ‘30’s. Scott, himself, was attracted to the automotive industry by the “cool things” he did with his dad and grandfather like going to local and national tracks , including Lakeside Speedway (before it closed in 19880. How influential was spending time at Lakeside Speedway? A framed “50th Anniversary” poster hangs in one of the offices at 3Zero3 Motorsports. Scott’s first mechanical repair was performed while spending summers working on the family farm in Perkins County, Nebraska when he repaired the gearbox on

LOCAL BUSINESS CALENDAR Jeffco Business Resource Center Announces Upcoming Workshops On May 24, the Jeffco Business Resource Center will offer “Pinterest for Business Connecting You with Your Target Audience” from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. This workshop will cover Best Practices, Small Business Strategies, Buyable Pins, Pinterest Ads, Creative Strategies, and More. Lunch is included. On June 14, the Center will offer the workshop “Microsoft Power Point Workshop - Build a Power Point Presentation in One Hour!” 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. If you have a foundational working knowledge of PowerPoint and want to learn more about creating engaging presentations - this workshop is for you! All classes are held at JCBRC’s offices, 1667 Cole Blvd., Golden. For more information and to register visit www.jeffcobrc.org.

June WRBA Membership Breakfast Features John Bandimere, Jr. John Bandimere, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Bandimere Speedway, will be the featured speaker at June 14th Membership breakfast of the Wheat Ridge Business Association, 7:00-9:00 a.m. at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling St., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. His topic will be Bandimere Speedway – “Not just a race place” Bandimere Speedway, in Morrison, also known as Thunder Mountain has been providing drag racing entertainment since 1958. John serves as Chairman of the Board as well as

CSO – Chief Spiritual Officer of Bandimere Speedway and is a Wheat Ridge resident. Cost: $15 for WRBA Members, $18 for Non-members For details and to register visit www. wheatridgebiz.com/events

The Thompson Group Opens June 22

The Wheat Ridge Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting for the Thompson Group on June 22, from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. The Thompson Group is located inside the Zarlengo Raub offices at 7100 W 44th Avenue #101. For more information visit www.wheatridgechamber.org

ABA Seeks American Flag Donations Each year, the Applewood Business Association sponsors the placing of American flags along Youngfield from Flag Day (June 16) through Independence Day. Prospect Recreation and Parks District places and removes the flags. The ABA reaches out to its membership and local businesses seeking sponsorships of $25.00 per flag to cover the costs and to raise funds for the eventual redevelopment of Youngfield Street. Each participant will be entered into a drawing for an American Flag and stand to keep. One entry for each flag sponsored. The winning entry will be selected at the July ABA Board of Directors meeting from all entries and the winner notified by phone or by mail. For details and to make a donation, visit www.applewoodbusiness.com

ngazette.com – MAY 17 – JUNE 20, 2016 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

one of the tower legs of the center pivot on the irrigation system. That was the start of a career working with his hands, something Scott learned from his grandfather. On a shelf in his office, Scott keeps a copy of his grandfather’s single volume “Motor’s Auto Repair Manual” that covers all specs for all automotive brands from 1935 to 1952. Along the way, automotive repairs have evolved to a much higher level of sophistication. Today technicians take weeks-long courses, each with its own manual, to learn one aspect of one model within one car brand. What a change! While his grandfather was a devotee of “Made in America,” Scott got support from his dad to branch-out into other makes and models after the race-like modifications that his friend made to his 1997 VW Jetta caught Scott’s attention. That, in turn, led to looking under the hood and discovering the whole new world of German-engineering. Through his friend’s car-owning experience, Scott came to the realization that repair and maintenance options for foreign cars— solely manufacturer-driven—left much to be desired from a customer experience standpoint. At that time, he didn’t feel there was a shop in the metro area that took really good care of people who were driving German-made automobiles. After opening the doors in 2005, 3Zero3 Motorsport, an auto repair shop for Germanmade automobiles including Audi, BMW, Mini-Cooper, Volkswagen and Porsche, spent

four years building racecars that competed on the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) circuit. After many podiums and top-ten finishes, the decision to stop campaigning for a pro team was prompted by the birth of Scott’s daughter in 2014. That’s when Scott refocused his priorities on business and family and the families of “the amazing group of people” he works with at 3Zero3. Five of fifteen employees at 3Zero3 are dads, one is a mom and Scott and his wife Tess are expecting a son in July. Since employees at 3Zero3 Motorsports spend more time each day with each other than they do with their own families, the goal at 3Zero3 Motorsports is to enjoy work, to respect each other and to work collaboratively together. Scott serves on the board of the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame. 3Zero3 Motorsports, 5000 Robb St., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033, 303-456-8383, staff@3zero3.com

A-1 Rentals, Russ Redig A-1 Rentals has a long history in Wheat Ridge on 38th Avenue. Charles Redig started the company 58 years ago in 1958 in the building that is now Right Coast Pizza. In the beginning A-1 Rentals was just a repair shop. Along the way it became also an equipment and tool rental operation. Charles Redig liked to say, “ we have 1,000 tools for one million jobs.” Son Russ Redig, the current owner, says, “if you have it in your garage

SAVE THE DATE When people work together, Awesome happens! Voice of Wheat Ridge business community

WHEATRIDGEBIZ.COM

JUNE MEMBERSHIP BREAKFAST FEBRUARY MEMBERSHIP BREAKFAST*** DATE: TIME: LOCATION:

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Tuesday, February 9, 2016 7:00 - 9:00 am PLEASE NOTE THE LOCATION HAS CHANGED FOR THIS DATE ONLY TO THE Lutheran Medical Center, Learning Center # 1 (2nd floor), 8300 West 38th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 (SEE MAP BELOW)*** Lieutenant Governor Joe Garcia TBD

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and use it on your lawn or in your garden, we fix it. If you don’t have it in your garage, we rent it.” Over the past 25 years, A-1 Rentals has recognized a significant shift in rental sales: Homeowners used to comprise 75 percent of their rental business and contractors accounted for the remaining 25 percent. Today, homeowners have dropped to 60 percent and contractors are up to 40 percent. Russ attributes the 15-percent shift to a change in homeowners’ mindsets from “do-it-yourself” to “hire someone to do it for you.” This is largely due to the fact that today we have more small business contractors available to hire to paint a house or put in a lawn than we did 25 years ago when homeowners would have to take on these challenges themselves. Also, for the “jack of all trades” handyman contractors, it’s more economical to rent the equipment they need than to own it. “Computers sneaking into everything” is another shift in the business. A Dingo tractor is an example of a rental machine that didn’t exist ten years ago. It’s a walkbehind compactor/utility loader that comes with both wheeled or tracked options that’s 36-inches wide so that it can fit through a standard garden gate. It comes with a variety of job-specific attachments. The computer controlled hydraulics “supply the power where you need it most—to the drive wheels, tracks or hydraulic attachments.” The employees at A-1 Rental have

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over 75 years of experience in the rental equipment business. They will readily explain the steps involved in any project and “the tricks of the trade” for each step. You can also ask them about how to maintain the equipment you own and the advantages of rental verses ownership. In many cases, a piece of equipment that you buy that you use one or two times a year is a less powerful consumer-designed product when you could rent a commercial grade piece of equipment that will accomplish the job in much less time and without the need for storage when you’re done. A-1 will deliver equipment to your doorstep for $10 to $30 one-way. Trailers are also available for rent. This spring, A-1 Rentals will offer onestop shopping for all your paint needs including items such as buckets, rags, brushes and tarps. If your house could use a coat of paint or new color palate and you want to save money by not hiring a contractor to paint it for you, you can sign-up now for the ladders, scaffolding, pressure washers and paint sprayers you might need. Now is also the time to get your lawnmower tuned up and your garden shears and clippers sharpened. When Russ took a trailer to an auction a few weeks ago, the Colorado ID listed on the frame caught his attention as he remembered imprinting the numbers with a metal stamp and hammer when he was eight years old. A-1 Rentals, 7080 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033, 303-424-4456

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Continued from page 1

knowledge about the industry that can’t be learned from reading a book or taking classes. Cobb and the rest of the Norman’s Memorials team also are passionate about spending time listening to their customers, discussing their vision and helping them determine which monument will be the best color, design and shape to pay the ultimate tribute to their loved ones. Giving back to the community is an important part of the Norman’s Memorials’ culture. Recently, when the Arvada Historical Society’s hosted a tour of the Arvada Cemetery, it was discovered that an unmarked grave was that of a Civil War veteran. Norman’s is working on a marker they will donate to honor the soldier buried there. Some of the first graves at Arvada Cemetery were those of children who died in the 1800s. Norman’s also has donated markers for those graves, and the company also donated every block marker in the cemetery. Additionally, the company frequently donates repair work at cemeteries, where gravestones have been damaged by the elements, or because they were made of sandstone or marble, have deteriorated over time. (As Warren Cobb likes to say, “Michelangelo carved the Pietà out of marble because it was a more manageable stone for sculpting. If he had carved it out of granite instead, he’d still be working on it.”) Cobb acknowledges that the increase of people choosing cremation instead of burial has affected business and will continue to do so, but people still want a final resting place with some plaque or gravestone to mark it. In the meantime, Norman’s Memorials continues to expand its services by creating civic monuments like the war memorial at Elmwood Cemetery in Brighton, the

war memorial in Wheatland, Wyoming, memorials for several VFW lodges throughout the Metro Denver area and the Colorado Fallen Firefighters Memorial. Norman’s also provided the plaques and lettering for the Colorado Tribute to Veterans Monument located in Lincoln Park between the State Capitol and Denver City and County Building. To keep up with emerging technology, Norman’s now offers monuments that include memory links. A memory link is a permanent metal plaque with a unique QR Code that is embedded into a monument. When scanned with a QR Code Reader, the link goes to a website dedicated to the individual or individuals buried at the site. Norman’s also has a Facebook page to connect with younger customers. Now with four locations in Wheat Ridge, Brighton, Greeley and Grand Junction, Norman’s is able to assist even more families through some of their darkest days. While Warren Cobb isn’t sure when he will officially retire from the company, he knows Norman’s is in capable hands under the leadership of his son Ron. Perhaps Ron’s 16-year-old son Sean, who works part-time at the Greeley location, may one day run Norman’s Memorials. While there will be constant change to the way people memorialize their deceased loved ones, those left behind always will appreciate conscientious companies like Norman’s that provide quality work, along with exceptional service. The genuine care Norman’s provides its customers is one of the key reasons the company has lasted for more than a century. It will be this same deeply personal care and compassion that will allow Norman’s Memorials to remain a vital community member for years to come. For more information about Norman’s Memorials, visit www.normansmemorials. com. 7805 W. 44th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033, 303-422-3425

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