Neighborhood Gazette – January 2018 by Neighborhood Gazette

EDGEWATER COUNCIL Reﬂections And Update On November’s Election Page 4

40 WEST ARTS February First Friday with About the Body Reception Pages 7

ASK THE SUPER Looking Back – And Looking Forward

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NEIGHBORHOOD

EDGEWATER

| SLOAN’S LAKE | WEST COLFAX | TWO CREEKS

January 16 — February 12, 2018 • ngazette.com • FREE

Civic Resolution for 2018: Be Active, Boards n By

J. Patrick O’Leary

heat Ridge City Council voted in October to do away with the existing baseball field at Anderson Park as part of a master plan for renovation, following a long evening of impassioned and contentious testimony by residents and park users. Although the fate of the field was ultimately determined by a vote of an elected city council, the detailed plan was the result of months of work by the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission. The commission is a group of eight appointed – not elected – citizens, two from each district, whose duties include reviewing all existing and proposed legislation relating to parks and recreation matters, and making recommendations on parks and recreation matters to the city council. In the case of the Anderson Park Master Plan, council Continued on page 10

SEVERAL PAINTED METAL SCULPTURES STAND at Mountair Park, including these neighborhood helpers. Sculptures of happy cows and a farmer and two young men pumping gas also add life and fun to the park. See “Integrating Art and Fun...” on page 6. PHOTO: TIM BERLAND

WEST COLFAX SKETCHES: Magic On West Colfax n By

Kris Autobee

n 2017, our sketches of West Colfax introduced our readers to visual artists from the past who lived, worked and exhibited their art in the neighborhood. My New Year’s resolution is to write about performing artists, such as dancers, actors and pianists. So let’s start with magicians. West Colfax has two kinds of magic. First, the wonder of it, and secondly, the prestidigitation. Over the last few years, we have watched with amazement as many individuals have worked hard to create a new West Colfax. Many people have asked themselves the question: what do we want West Colfax to have or to be? How do we create a vibrant, livable, economically diverse and boutique-rich West Colfax? The answers varied, and you have been watching (and hopefully supporting) new businesses up and down the Avenue. Aurora Hendrix, at Mint & Serif Coffee House, was a stay-at-home mom who felt isolated from the community. So she created a familyfriendly coffee house that has a storytime as well as participating in the artistic spirit of First Fridays. Anthony Martuscello wanted to brew better beer and created Westfax Brewery. Gene Kalesti's passion for food lead to Pure Colorado Pro’s Kitchen. Judy Cybuch, at the Gallery of Everything, wanted artists to experience hanging and selling their work in a gallery without membership fees. And Bob and I believe that every artist should have easy access to quality materials. We can once again associate words like momentum, change, discovery, enthusiasm and experience with West Colfax again. Is it sleight of hand? No, its hard work and the understanding that our investments will make our neighborhood a better place. In many ways, we are no different from the businesses that first occupied this neighborhood. In 1956, the ground

under Lamar Station Plaza was still mostly pasture. Open space. Then, as if by magic, in February 1957 the JCRS Shopping Center opened. At the same time, other changes were happening in the surrounding neighborhood. New apartment buildings were constructed on Lamar Street. Pierce Street was completed between West Colfax Avenue and West 20th Avenue to accommodate a new entrance to the JCRS Campus, the original cut off by the shopping center. Soon apartments sprang up on Pierce Street both north and south of Colfax. Seventeen years after it opened, the JCRS Shopping Center had few original tenants. In fact it seems that few stores lasted 10 or more years at JCRS. That doesn’t mean they went out of business. Eugene Rose Jewelers moved to greener pastures at Villa Italia in 1965, and Thompson’s Hobby

& Crafts moved further west. Casa Bonita’s owners spent a year excavating to create three stories where there had only been two, building an 85-foot-tall bell tower and a 30foot waterfall. The restaurant which seats 1,000 and opened in 1974. The fountain, imported from Mexico, was added later. Casa Bonita is the oldest tenant at JCRS/Lamar Station Plaza. Like West Colfax, Casa Bonita’s magic lies in discovery, wonderment and adventure. Anticipation builds as customers wait in switchback lines. Then the hike to your table, mariachis, sopapillas, Black Bart’s cave, puppet shows, magicians, sopapillas, arcade games, piñatas, sopapillas, the gorilla and divers. There have been several “house” magicians at Casa Bonita over the years. Arch Jefferies was the first, and Dave Elstun spent 10 of his 40-plus-year career there.

Brandon K. Parker, Jeff Jenson, Gregg Tabo and Bob Brown have all worked the Casa Bonita stage. But there was magic outside of Casa Bonita, too. For 18 years, Ned’s Mile High Magic and More was next door to Casa Bonita. Robert “Ned” Nedbalski is a well-known prestidigitator, stage hypnotist and magician. Originally from Denver, he graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Business Administration. He worked for many years for J. C. Penny’s in Denver and Salina, Kan. Even then he stayed active as a magician and entertainer. Nedbalski wrote the forward to “The Flourishman” by Jerry Cestkowski. Flourishes are the attention-getting moves like fancy cutting and shuﬄing, card fans, Continued on page 2

N E I G H B O R H O O D F E AT U R E

Berkeley Inn Turns 85 – More or Less n By

Mike McKibbin

THE BERKELEY INN, 3834 TENNYSON ST., will celebrate its 85th anniversary later this month, although the year is uncertain: some records show the dive bar establishment was granted a water tap in the 1920s, it opened after prohibition or gained its ﬁrst license in the 1950s. PHOTO BY MIKE MCKIBBIN.

s dive bars go, the Berkeley Inn must be doing things right. The Urban Dictionary describes a dive bar as “A well-worn, unglamorous bar, often serving a cheap, simple selection of drinks to a regular clientele. The term can describe anything from a comfortablebut-basic neighborhood pub to the nastiest swill-slinging hole.” Believed to be one of the oldest bars in Denver, the Berkeley Inn, 3834 Tennyson St., opened in or around 1934 in the Berkeley neighborhood, a 4.2-square-mile unincorporated community in Adams County. Open every day from 10 a.m. until 2 a.m., it features a couple of pool tables, jukebox, several big screen TVs and live music Friday and Continued on page 2

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Berkeley Inn Continued from page 1

Saturday nights. “We’re not exactly like ‘Cheers,’ but we’re not too far away,” owner Lisa Sanchez said of the famous TV bar and series. “We get a fairly nice younger crowd, too.” The bar may be 85 years old this year and patrons will celebrate the milestone on Sanchez' Friday, Jan. 26, birthday. Sanchez has owned the 1,900-square-foot Berkeley Inn since 2012 and been in the bartending business for close to 30 years. “Yes, its old and dated, but it’s clean and a fun spot to hang out,” Sanchez wrote on Yelp. “There have been several owners and they each tell a different story. One says the first license was issued in 1953, but the sign out front says 1946. Well, I guess we'll never know for sure.” A book, "The North Side," notes the Berkeley Inn started serving drinks shortly after prohibition. Further obscuring the bar’s history are records of a water tap approval in 1924, while the site was platted in 1922, Sanchez noted. Since the actual age of the bar is unclear, “I’m going to call it 85 years. It’s my bar,” she added, then smiled. Among a few visible signs of the bar’s history is part of a mural from the 1930s, mostly obscured by the 50-foot-long bar, mirror and other bar keeping essentials. The bar has had five owners “at most” and in the 1960s and ‘70s was notorious as a “biker club bar,” Sanchez said. “Guns, drugs and money” were prevalent, she added. “They had people ride horses and motorcycles down the center of the bar and you can still find little cubby holes in the bar. I don’t know what’s behind them, but probably drugs and money.” The Berkeley Inn is not on any list of historic places, but Sanchez said she would favor such a designation. “Everything else built around the same time around here has been torn down,” she noted. “But I don’t own the building, so it’s up to the building’s owner.” Despite its age, Sanchez said the building is in fair shape. She paid for an electrical upgrade, added two roll-up doors on both sides of the front door and made other improvements. “We live in a time when it seems to be all about regentrification” of old neighborhoods in the Denver area, Sanchez said. “People seem to forget all about just sitting in a bar and talking to people, what that means to a neighborhood.”

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Sanchez holds several free events – many with gift giveaways – throughout the year, such as Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas prime rib dinners, a “trailer trash” party in the fall and this year’s combination anniversary and birthday party. “I just want to do something for all the people who have supported me and for those who don’t have a place to be,” Sanchez said. The Berkeley Inn is also available – often at no charge – to host birthday, anniversary and other celebratory events. “I always believe that if you’re good to people, they’ll be good to you,” Sanchez said. And, as you might expect for someone who serves drinks, the people are the best part of Sanchez’ job and business. “You gotta love the people,” she said. “I’m kind of a grouch at times, but I talk to every customer and get to know their stories, their families, wives, kids and husbands. That cheers me up all the time.” Sanchez – the sole owner – has a staff of five people and her goal is to see the Berkeley Inn survive for 100 years. “It’s going to be a struggle in this neighborhood, with the high cost of living and not having a kitchen to cook food,” she added. Without a commercial kitchen and no room to expand to add one, Sanchez said, the bar is limited to mostly “pub snacks.” While a small electric fryer and a pizza

LISA SANCHEZ, OWNER OF THE BERKELEY INN, 3834 Tennyson St., prepares a drink for a customer during the holiday season. The dive bar will celebrate its 85th anniversary later this month, although the history of the bar is clouded. PHOTO BY MIKE MCKIBBIN. oven are used, they can’t cook a hamburger without a kitchen. Parking is a struggle along Tennyson Street, Sanchez added, so she made arrangements with the nearby Javier’s Diner to use their parking lot after 4 p.m. Within a 10-block area of the Berkeley Inn, Sanchez said there are 21 liquor-licensed businesses. That kind of oversaturation can lead to a lack of customer loyalty, she added, but said the bar has a very loyal – if shrinking – following, due to an increased cost of living. As of the first of the year, Sanchez added 25 cents to the price of everything served at the Berkeley Inn due to rising business costs. Above the bar hangs a nondescript green sign with white letters spelling “rollercoaster.” It is a sign from the old Elitch Gardens’ roller coaster, formerly located nearby. A sign from the Elitch Lanes bowling alley also helps memorialize some of the Berkeley area’s history. “I think it’s important to have a local, long-term establishment like this, where people can walk in any time and just be who they are,” Sanchez said. “You don’t have to dress up to come in, you can be in your work boots and be treated the same as the guy in the business suit.”

Colfax Sketches Continued from page 1

and flashy motions that magicians add to a card trick. These moves distinguish the professional from the amateur, and help distract the audience from the actual trick. It is said that the only reason you put this book down is that it weighs five pounds. Ned’s Mile High Magic & More sold books, DVDs, makeup, wigs, costumes and props for tricks. Back in 1999, a French tourist recorded his impression that “The owner is always in character… As it is located next to one of those crazy restaurants as the Americans like them, there is a steady stream of curious visitors looking for cheap magic. The atmosphere is very different from the French stores where professional magicians gather in a conspiratorial air…” A local magician noted, “Ned and his store has supported us for a very long time and we are always in his debt.” A Denver Yelp reviewer wrote “be aware, they sell tricks there. So you have to buy the trick before they will show you how to do it. But they won’t sell you a trick they know you don’t have the skill to do. They were very cool like that.” Ring 250 Presto-Digitators, the Fort Collins chapter of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, presented Nedbalski with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. After Ned’s Mile High Magic & More closed in 2009, the unit sat empty until the Gallery of Everything and Red Herring Art Supply co-located there in February 2016. Come celebrate the magic at First Friday, Feb. 2, 2018. You never know – you might learn a new trick.

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EDGEWATER MAYOR

Find out what your neighbors are saying:

Our Goals For 2018 financial framework. Here are a few things that are going on with the construction. Timeline: If you have been by the y the time you read this article, we’ll construction site, you have noticed a lot of already be more than halfway through dirt moving and concrete work. The current January! Edgewater City Council has timeline reflects steel building frame to be already had five meetings since the election delivered in mid-February. The design and and is moving forward on many issues and construction team anticipate the erection projects. I have included information from of the building to initiate in the Deputy City Manager Dan February and run through April. Maples about the new Civic Following the building exterior, Center below. completion of interior work will In December city council begin. Currently, the timetable updated its list of goals for the is showing completion in first half of 2018. The goals September of 2018. Cross your represent the consensus of the fingers for good weather! council on the direction that they Sustainability: The want for the community and Edgewater Civic Center was constitute the foundation of the enrolled in the Xcel Energy city’s work plan. We update and Design Assistance program at enhance goals as we find new the onset of the design. Through Laura Keegan direction or remove goals as they this program the design team are achieved. works with an energy engineer to model Our goals for the city this period are: 1) different systems for heating and cooling, The city is committed to the health, safety and lighting and insulation. Currently, in the welfare of Edgewater; 2) Maintain Edgewater final stages of this program, the design as a city with financially sustainable assets team has elected to invest in higher efficient and quality service delivery; 3) Review and heating and air conditioning systems as well enhance city communication tools; 4) Align as better insulation. the city’s recreational, educational, and Design Presentation: Owner’s cultural programs with the needs and desires Representative (NV5) and key design team of our diverse community; 5) Implement a members will be in front of the city council land use policy that will encourage economic at the Feb. 1 meeting to update the them development that enhances the quality of life. on construction and design of the facility. This presentation will provide a very inEdgewater Civic Center Construction depth look at the facility and provide an upUpdate to-date timeline for the completion of the The City of Edgewater staff and Owner’s construction. –Dan Maples, Deputy City Representative have been working together Manager on the development of the Edgewater Civic Contact Edgewater mayor Laura Center for over a year now. Staff and elected Keegan at lkeegan@edgewaterco.com or officials have been working toward this 303-232-0745. project for many years, both in concept and

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EDGEWATER CITY COUNCIL Reflections And Update On November’s Election City staff is updating the city’s website and collectively we are exploring creative options for staying connected with your t has been two months since Edgewater’s ideas. residents cast their ballots and decided Your 2018 city council has a new who will now lead our city. 2018 is upon look and feel. Election results awarded us and Edgewater’s City Council is settling Laura Keegan the seat for mayor, and in with some new faces and experienced John Beltrone, Caleb Rountree, and Janet members showing the way. Spangenburg the seats for city council. Our election season began with an Soon after the election, Myra Keeble, unprecedented number of candidates (10) city council member of six years resigned vying for the available mayor her seat to pursue an exciting and city council seats. All of the new job opportunity. To say candidates ran their campaigns it simply, Myra worked hard with class and avoided divisive for Edgewater. Her presence behavior. What a great way for on city council and in our our community to engage in the community will be missed. I’ve political process! been appointed the vacant seat The community has based on election results and spoken and their voices will be Edgewater’s City Charter. represented by our newest city Mayor Keegan is settling council. The consensus is that into her new role as our leader; Edgewater residents are excited with her gavel in hand she will to see progress at 20th and Depew, and looking forward to Cory Reid-Vanas continue to give her heart and soul to bettering our community. the resources of our new civic center. Steve Conklin has accepted the position of Your feedback will inform the city’s Mayor Pro Tem and will remain an asset efforts to provide family friendly, multito guiding city council. Kate Mulcahy’s cultural and community strengthening grounded approach will be a needed events that will further deepen our roots as foundation for our efforts moving forward. a whole. Watch for the Community Picnic Janet Spangenberg’s experience and and 5k, and Blues and BBQ. dedication to Edgewater is admirable. We heard from many residents about Sadly, we are saying goodbye to Kara the need to protect Edgewater’s charm. Swanson as she recently resigned. Kara is a City council and the Planning and Zoning strong advocate for our citizens, and she will Commission have met and are working continue to have an important presence in collaboratively to review our codes to ensure Edgewater. John Beltrone, Caleb Rountree we are making decisions that safeguard and myself are ready to get to work, to learn our community’s growth. Your concerns and represent Edgewater. regarding code enforcement are being Contact information for Edgewater ofaddressed, as well. ficials is available at: www.edgewaterco. City council has also made a commitment com. to improve our communication efforts. n By

EDGEWATER AT 25TH & SHERIDAN

Cory Reid-Vanas

ngazette.com –JANUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 12, 2018 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

EDGEWATER COLLECTIVE Edgewater Gardening Meetup n By

Joel Newton

oin the Jefferson Community Garden for an Edgewater Gardening Meetup on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 10 to 11 a.m., at Joyride Brewing Company, 2501 Sheridan Blvd. The topic will be planning a garden and what you should be doing in January to prepare your garden for the next growing season. This forum is open to anyone interesting in learning more about gardening. The next Edgewater Gardening Meetup will be Saturday, Feb. 24, from 10 to 11 a.m., at the Jefferson Community Garden, 2305 Pierce St. The topic will be seed starting with a demonstration. Jefferson Community Report on Area Schools to be Released Students and teachers at Edgewater Elementary, Lumberg Elementary, Molholm Elementary and Jefferson Junior/

Senior High School are working hard to overcome some significant roadblocks to student success. The Jefferson Success Pathway will release the 2018 Jefferson Community Report showing the progress made in these Edgewater area schools. The Jefferson Success Pathway is a coalition of community members, nonprofit organizations, county agencies and Jeffco Schools staff devoted to seeing all kids in the 80214 ZIP code succeed from cradle to career. The Jefferson Community Report will be released on Friday, Jan. 26, from 8 to 9 a.m., at the 40 West Arts Edge Theater, 1560 Teller St. The report will show data on progress indicators from cradle to career as well as ways that businesses and community members can come together to help students succeed. More details are available at edgewatercollective.org.

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EDGEWATER BUSINESS Transitions Mark The New Year n By

Joel Newton

anuary 2018 brings a number of transitions to Edgewater businesses as some transition out of the Edgewater community, some renovate and others wait to launch. Wine Beer Fat Dec. 31, 2017, brought the close of Wine Beer Fat on 25th Avenue. One of the coowners accepted a new position out of the state and the business had to close. Wine Beer Fat was successful during their oneyear run in Edgewater and brought a new kind of eating experience beyond what is already offered in town. Good luck to the owners of Wine Beer Fat in their new adventures! Joining Vision and Action Known to many by their former name JVA Consulting, Joining Vision and Action moved from their location on Sheridan Avenue in December. They moved across Sloan’s Lake to a shared office space at 1525

Raleigh St., in Denver. Joining Vision and Action offers a variety of consulting services for nonprofits and for-profit businesses.

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fter the holidays, many of us want to take a break from the gluttony, but chilled smoothies and salads are not always what are bodies crave in the cool weather. Celebrate soup month with this creamy, seemingly rich soup that boasts only a few ingredients. Make this cauliflower soup even better by using a homemade broth. Broth is both healing and soothing, ideal for our cold and flu season. The recipe below is simple to put together and simmers for a few hours on the stove or in a crockpot.

Roasted Cauliflower Soup Serves 2-3 1 head cauliflower, cut in chunks 1 onion, cut in chunks 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste, if needed 3-4 cups of chicken or vegetable broth, store bought or homemade (see recipe below) pinch of freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1-2 tablespoons plain greek yogurt, optional Preheat the oven to 425° F. Toss the chunks of cauliflower and onions on a baking sheet with the olive oil and salt. Roast for 20-30 minutes, tossing periodically until they are tender to the bite. Place the vegetables in a blender. Pour in at least half

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running to pass more legislation that honors hard work and protects the Colorado we love. Here are a few policies I will be s the 2018 legislative session gears working to pass: up, we have 120 days to push forward • Passing a tax deduction for retired policies that are going to make a real veterans. difference in real people’s day• Expanding vocational/ to-day lives. I believe every technical training and hard-working Coloradan should apprenticeship opportunities so have the opportunity to prosper that every student has access to in Colorado’s economy, send a good-paying job. their kids to great public schools • Promoting common and be able to build a secure sense ways to close the pay gap future for their families. between men and women to In early 2017, I wrote to grow our economy. you about three important I first ran for the state legislative goals I had: legislature because I believe • Pass the Wage Theft we need leaders who will stand Transparency Act to make Jessie Danielson up for a stronger, more secure wage-theft violations public. middle class and an economy that works for • Promote equal pay for equal work with everyone. Expanding opportunity means the Pay Transparency Act. strengthening our schools, leveling the • Fight elder abuse by cracking down on economic playing field and helping retirees the financial exploitation of seniors. and seniors live independently and securely. All three of those policies are now law I work for you. It’s that simple. If you and are making a real difference for ordinary have questions, concerns or ideas, I want to Coloradans. I also worked closely with law hear them. You can reach me by email me at enforcement to pass legislation cracking jessie.danielson.house@state.co.us. My cell down on child predators. And veterans phone is 720-276-3468. If you are coming can now secure college credit for service to visit the Capitol, let me know. skills, helping them earn degrees faster and Thank you for the honor of serving you. cheaper and get them on the path to secure Jessie Danielson represents State employment. We also held state government House District 24, which includes Golden, accountable for poorly communicating with Wheat Ridge and other areas in Jefferson Medicaid patients, jeopardizing health care, County. Rep. Danielson’s legislative office and passed legislation cutting red tape so phone is 303-866-5522. Her website is that folks are being better served. www.jessiedanielson.com. This year I am hitting the ground n By

State Rep. Jessie Danielson

February Membership Breakfast Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2018 Time: 7:00am-9:00am Location: Wheat Ridge Recreation Center 4005 Kipling St. Cost: $15 for WRBA Members and their guests, $18 for non-members SPEAKER: Chris Katzenmeyer TOPIC: “On mindfullness...”

January speaker, Michelle Wilson talking about Peace of Mind Productivity. Managing stress and self expectations.

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akewood Arts in the Lamar Plaza next to Casa Bonita is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lakewood Arts has a number of diverse classes, workshops, and shows, coming up this winter. Saturday, Jan. 20, a class in painting on YUPO, lets students try out this unique art paper. YUPO, a synthetic paper, is completely recyclable and completely waterproof. Instructor, Gail Firmin, will provide students with two sheets of YUPO and teach techniques to create underwater scenes with watercolors. Another fun, creative class is called Yog(a)rt workshop. Instructor Beth Bosser Adcock will guide attendees through a yoga meditation, then to creating a personal mandala design. Bring a yoga mat if you have one. Enjoy snacks, music and creativity. There are three Sunday workshops beginning Feb. 3. Other upcoming classes include Watercolor Florals, Drink-n-Ink, Mosaics, Collage, and Acrylic Pour classes. You can find out about costs, needed materials, and register for classes online at www.lakewoodarts.org, pick up a registration form at Lakewood Arts, or call 303-980-0625. The 40 West Arts Gallery at 1560 Teller Street celebrates a new show, “About the Body,” opening on Feb. 2 and running until Feb. 24. The First Friday Opening Reception

will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., on Feb. 2. The opening reception will include a variety of art created by many artists’ interpretations of the show’s title. The reception, also, offers beer, wine and light bites. The 40 West Arts Gallery at 1560 Teller St. is open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. At Container Collective Yoga, 1492 Ammons St., studio owner and teacher Brittany Hopkins will be sponsoring an amazing retreat in the fall. The Crestone Yoga Retreat offers seclusion and contemplation in a uniquely beautiful environment. A stunning dome will be the setting for yoga. Fresh food comes from the garden, which overlooks Great Sand Dunes National Park. Hiking trails in the Sangre de Cristos and a day trip to the Sand Dunes provide both exercise and beauty for contemplation. Meditation, hot springs, and shopping make this an amazing retreat. Visit Container Collective Yoga and Bikes’ website for more information before all the spaces are gone. Edge Gallery at 7001 W. Colfax opened a new wide-open show on Jan. 5 which will run for the month of January. Artists could submit artwork of any media, any style. Unless the artwork was larger than 36 inches, artist submitted as many pieces as they chose. Sculpture of many materials, paintings of many styles and sizes, and unique art you never expect may be found at the Edge Gallery. The gallery is open Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Integrating Art and Fun on the 40 West ArtLine By Nancy Hahn

hat is four and a half miles long, lined with art and sidewalk murals, and coming to Lakewood in mid-2018? The 40 West ArtLine! The ArtLine will provide a walking and biking experience with art to enjoy, activities to try, and will connect the 40 West Art District and three Lakewood parks. Aviation Park at 1900 Teller St., Mountair Park at 5620 W. 14th Ave., and Walker-Branch Park at 5825 W. 16th Ave., will each be part of the ArtLine. An Our Town Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts is making the creation of the ArtLine possible. This grant program supports projects that integrate arts and culture into communities and create a distinct sense of place. The 40 West Art District is certainly a recognizable destination for exploring a variety of arts, but it is a narrow slice of Lakewood. The ArtLine will spread a variety of art to actively enjoy throughout Lakewood. The City of Lakewood Traffic Department painted a green line that connects the three parks and identifies the walking and biking route. Volunteers have painted ground murals at two intersections along the route. Mountair Park was used to try out the paints and designs to be used. A hopscotch mural designed by James Overstreet, 40 West Artist-in-Residence, was painted at Mountair Park Community Farm. Mountair Park, also, has interactive art and murals. Both will be part of the ArtLine, but much more will be added to Mountair before mid-2018. Muralist Carlos Fresquez and community volunteers will add ground murals at several Lakewood intersections along the ArtLine. Murals, as well as freestanding art, will be featured along the route. Each of the three parks will have one large art installation. The theme chosen for the installations was dinosaurs. But the art installations will be ‘inspired’ by dinosaurs

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THE PEAPOD HOPSCOTCH WAS DESIGNED BY JAMES OVERSTREET, 40 West Artist-in-Residence, and is perfect for the ArtLine by the Light Rail at Mountair Park and Community Farm. The green line beckons walkers and bikers to follow, like Dorothy on the yellow brick road. PHOTO BY NANCY HAHN. – they won’t be dinosaur sculptures. The ideas already approved are each completely unique, entirely fun, and absolutely art. For example, Aviation Park will have what appears to be a buried dinosaur with only his rows of huge upright spines sticking out of the hill. The final design and choices made for the ArtLine are thanks to a large group of volunteers and community members. This group attended meetings, discussed, and collaborated in the planning and ideas for the ArtLine. All agreed that the Art District is an asset to the community and a destination that visitors enjoy exploring. The group walked the entire route and decided that while 4 1/2 miles is a long way for some walkers, benches will be added along the route. The painted green ArtLine just invites you to follow and will spread the enjoyment of art throughout Lakewood.

Call Tim Berland 303-995-2806 • tim@ngazette.com

ngazette.com –JANUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 12, 2018 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

40 WEST ARTS DISTRICT February First Friday with‘ About the Body’ Reception n By

Liz Black

t’s almost First Friday in 40 West Arts and we’re certain there’s lots going on including multiple open locations and tons of artwork available for viewing and purchase. 40 West Gallery is hosting its first 2018 opening reception for “About the Body,” a show that examines the human form. Join us on Friday, Feb. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m., with many galleries open until 9 p.m. or later. Learn more at www.40west arts.org.

VASD Lecture Jan. 16 RMCAD’s Visiting Artist, Scholar, Designer series is always impressive and the fourth in their “Time” series is no exception. Artist Sophie Clements combines the science of image capture with the poetics of motion and the seduction of the impossible to create objects from a single moment in time. Learn more here: www.vasd.rmcad. edu/

Container Collective Prenatal Flow Through the nausea and fatigue of first trimester, into the shifting pelvis/ligaments of second trimester and into the ultimate belly bump of third trimester, this two-hour workshop will talk about adapting your yoga practice to meet the needs of your changing body. Learn more here: www.cc360denver. com.

Beer & Cookie Pairing at WestFax Brewing, Jan. 24 Join WestFax Brewing Company and Good

Sugar Baking for a beer and cookie pairing on Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m.! For $12 you’ll get four cookies and four beers paired perfectly together! A percentage of every sale goes to a nonprofit. Learn more at www.westfaxbrewingcompany.com.

Pottery Night at Lamar Station Crossing, Feb. 8 Pinch pots are one of the earliest forms of pottery making; the technique goes back thousands of years. Learn how to pinch clay into pottery that can be functional or ornamental and paint your own pinch pot. This workshop is free of charge, great for families and hosted at Lamar Station Crossing Apts. Learn more at www.40westarts.org/ events.

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3rd Annual 40W Summit, Feb. 21 Grab a beer and give us your thoughts at our third annual 40W Summit, fast approaching on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 5 to 6:30 p.m., at WestFax Brewing Company with informal remarks at 5:30 p.m. The summit is really just a casual, comeand-go-as-you-please event where you can drink a beer, meet and network with other creatives, and give us your thoughts and feedback on upcoming initiatives, programming and areas of focus. It’s also a great way to learn about the district and ways to get involved. Did we mention there’s beer? Mark your calendars for this open house. We want as much feedback as possible!

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f you encounter them at the Grange in Wheat Ridge, you need not fear the Rodents of Unusual Size. Since 2003, this improv comedy troupe has brought laughter to audiences, and frequently, proceeds from the show go to a local nonprofit. Started by Jeff Chacon and Deletta Laes, the Rodents are available to perform at anything from corporate events and private shows to birthday and anniversary parties. Monthly, the Rodents of Unusual Size perform benefit shows at the Grange. Among those organizations they have supported are Smile Train and Dolls for Daughters. In December, the Rodents’ show benefitted Wheat Ridge-based Localworks. The Neighborhood Gazette will share more information about Rodents of Unusual Size. In the meantime, we wanted to make sure you keep your eye out for them. For information, visit http://coloradoimprov.com.

Benchmark Theatre Moves to the Edge As we reported last month, the Benchmark Theatre now has moved to the Edge Theater, which is now called The Bench at 40W. Benchmark begins its 2018 season with a special event, taking place on Jan. 21. Benchmark Theatre Company, in association with The Women’s’ Voices Theater Festival, will host a Colorado-based performance celebration on International Women’s Voices Day with local artists presenting work created by and featuring women. This one-day-only event presents play readings, poetry readings, music and improv as well as

a performance workshop. There will be two sessions that day, and tickets are $20 per session or $35 for the full day. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Blue Bench, Denver’s only comprehensive sexual assault prevention and support center. Among the shows planned for Benchmark’s 2018 season is regional premier of “A Kid Like Jake” by Daniel Pearle, which runs from Feb. 16 through March 24.

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Don’t Forget The Alamo Special screenings to kick off the new year at the Alamo Drafthouse Denver include “The Square” (Jan. 17, 7 p.m.), which was the 2017 recipient the Cannes Film Festival’s prestigious Palme D’Or Award. This screening is part of the Alamo Drafthouse and Clyfford Still Museum’s Film/STILL series. Also on the calendar for January is “(500) Days of Summer” (Jan. 22, 7 p.m.). The special event also includes a live performance of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts Cabaret’s “First Date.” Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Denver Actors Fund. Movie parties on deck include “The Princess Bride” (Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m. ,and Jan. 20, 5 p.m.), “Zoolander” (Jan. 20, 7:45 p.m.), “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” (Jan. 26, 8 p.m.), “The Wiz” (Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m.) and “Stop Making Sense” (Feb. 3, 9 p.m.). For the full schedule of films at the Alamo Drafthouse, visit www.drafthouse. com/denver.

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PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW — WHEAT RIDGE Retired Wheat Ridge Doctor Still Helping Post-Polio Victims n By

Elisabeth Monaghan

o those born after the mid-1960s, polio sounds like an “old-time disease,” but anyone over the age of 60 likely knows someone who had polio or at the very least, is familiar with fretful parents who feared their children might contract the disease by drinking from dirty water fountains or swimming in public pools. Thanks to Dr. Jonas Salk and Dr. Albert Sabin, who developed vaccinations for polio, the disease has been, for the most part, eradicated in the United States. Unfortunately, between 40 and 50 percent of all polio survivors have gone on to develop post-polio syndrome. Many of these survivors were unaware

post-polio syndrome even existed until they began to experience its symptoms. South Dakota native and Wheat Ridge resident Dr. Marny Eulberg is one of the polio survivors who has post-polio syndrome. A Baby Boomer who developed polio when it had reached epidemic proportions in the U.S., Eulberg was not aware post-polio syndrome was a thing. “I thought, like most polio survivors, you had polio; you had a certain amount of weakness; you got a certain amount of recovery, and you went on that way for the rest of your life,” according to Eulberg. While there had been reports of postpolio syndrome going back to the 1800s, it wasn’t until the mid-1980s that the disease was identified. Before, there weren’t

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enough cases to cause much concern, but as the thousands of those who had polio as children during the epidemics of the 1940s and ‘50s grew older, they began to display similar symptoms. Growing up Eulberg harbored the idea of going into medicine. Her parents, on the other hand, recognized their daughter’s desired profession would require being on her feet much of the time. Jobs with manual labor or long stints of standing or walking were not exactly ideal for polio survivors. Rather than stomping on Eulberg’s dreams, they introduced her to a lab technician at the local hospital so she could learn about additional careers in the medical field that did not require a great deal of standing or physical labor. With that, Eulberg pursued an undergraduate degree as a medical technician, but even then she realized she wanted to do more. “When I began working as a medical tech, the work was interesting, but as labs got more automated, it was like being on an assembly line,” Eulberg explains. The only way Eulberg could advance in her field was to become a supervisor. Although an admirable profession, she did not wish to be a supervisor in a medical lab, so she applied to and was accepted by the University of Arizona College of Medicine. After graduating from medical school, Eulberg did her residency at Mercy Medical Denver. For a brief period, Eulberg returned to South Dakota to practice medicine. Then in 1980, she moved back to Colorado and joined the Mercy Medical Center, where she also served on the faculty of the Family Medicine Residency program. Shortly after discovering she had postpolio syndrome, Eulberg became a student of the disease and an advocate for those affected by it. In 1985, Eulberg joined forces with a physical therapist named Ann Hueter to found the Colorado Post-Polio Clinic, which was based out of Mercy Medical Center. When Mercy closed in 1995, the Family Medicine Residency and the Family Medicine Residency Clinics moved to St. Anthony Hospital and then to St. Anthony North Hospital. In the decades she has practiced medicine, Eulberg has received a number of awards including the 2005 Colorado Academy of the Family Physicians Family Physician of the Year and was honored for this by both houses of the Colorado Legislature. She also was honored by thenDenver Mayor John Hickenlooper and the Denver City Council for her lifetime contributions to the health and welfare of area citizens. Eulberg’s participation in the community does not stop with her medical practice. In addition to belonging the Wheat Ridge Presbyterian Church, she serves on both the medical advisory committee and the board of directors for Post-Polio Health

DR. MARNY EULBERG is one of the polio survivors who has post-polio syndrome. Eulberg became a student of the disease and an advocate for those affected by it. International. She also is an active member of the Rotary Club and has served in a number of capacities on the Wheat Ridge Rotary board. This month, Eulberg stepped in as chair of Rotary District 5450. As an active member of the Rotary Club, Eulberg provides unique insights for the Rotary Club and its commitment to eradicating polio. Rotary launched its international PolioPlus initiative in 1985. At that time there were 350,000 cases of polio worldwide. As of 2016, there were only 37 cases in the world, and these were in Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Many of those who retire find hobbies to keep them busy, but Eulberg is not among them. Although she retired from her practice in 2016, Eulberg remains involved with the post-polio community. Not only is she a resource to patients with post-polio syndrome, she also is a go-to for anyone looking for information about the disease. Additionally, Eulberg volunteers with the Colorado Post-Polio Traveling Clinic, visiting places like Colorado Springs, Grand Junction and Fort Collins. Post-polio patients, or those who suspect they may have the disease, receive a written evaluation, a muscle test and a list of recommendations to help them preserve their policy of life. Eulberg lets these patients know they are not alone or forgotten, giving them a sense of hope and understanding. Seeing how she conducts herself provides them with a model of someone who has experienced their frustrations but continues to live a meaningful life, in spite of an “old-time disease” that Eulberg and other champions like her are determined to get rid of, once and for all. If you would like to learn more about Dr. Eulberg’s work or about post-polio syndrome, visit www.post-polio.org.

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ASK THE SUPER Looking Back – And Looking Forward heavily on a new vision document for our schools which sought to build on the district’s previous strategic plan, but also ver the holiday break, I had the time to clarify a bold new path for our students, to reflect on this past year and all the staff, and community. That document, changes that have come to Jeffco Public Jeffco Generations, was released in midSchools, and to also consider our future. October and we have been engaged in a 2017 marked a number of seismic changes community-wide discussion in Jeffco. This past spring, the about it since then. Board of Education decided The big idea behind to make a change in the Generations is to change leadership of the organization the student experience – an and began searching for a new intentional effort to make our superintendent. students’ experience authentic, As I came to Jeffco this meaningful, and engaging to summer, the biggest question prepare for the kinds of complex loomed around what would be work they will need to perform the long-term strategic direction as adults. Generations takes a for Jeffco Public Schools. This different approach to school question was dependent on what collective vision would Jason E. Glass, Ed.D. reform than many past efforts in that it goes directly to the student emerge from the community, experience and asks us to create something the board, and me as the new leader. I spent profoundly different, because if our efforts much of July and August crisscrossing the to change education do not impact how county in an effort to understand context our students experience learning, then we and build relationships. For me, the adage really have not changed anything at all. “seek to understand” was strongly present As the Generations document was as I worked to get to know Jeffco and discussed in our schools and community what hopes and fears were present in our this fall, the ideas within it were (for the community. most part) well-received. Questions did In the fall, the community began arise around a few concepts, such as how considering the direction our schools to balance the importance of skills (such as would take through the Board of Education creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, elections. Ultimately, three incumbent problem-solving, and innovation) with candidates prevailed in November, content knowledge (facts and key concepts). effectively stabilizing Jeffco Public Schools’ governance for at least the next four years. Continued on page 10 During this same time, I was working n By

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Civic Resolution Continued from page 1

members sent the commission’s plan back for revisions (redesign to keep the ball field), but ultimately approved it as-is at the following regular session. The lesson, for anyone who wants to guide and influence city decisions, is to take an active role in your municipality’s boards and commissions, by applying for an open position or regularly attending the meetings. The Town of Mountain View has recently appointed or re-appointed five citizens to its Board of Adjustments and Appeals. The City of Edgewater has one vacancy on its Board of Adjustment, due to a recent resignation. However, the City of Wheat Ridge is seeking candidates for a total of 26 openings on eight of its 10 boards and commissions. How much influence can a citizen serving on a commission or board have over city decisions? A lot, according to Wheat Ridge Treasurer Jerry DiTullio. In the past he has served on the city’s campaign finance reform committee and housing authority, as well as various county and state boards. He’s also served as mayor and a council member. “You’re in on the front end of many projects that come before council or the public,” he explained. “You can also direct input to staff or city council about an issue… guide the discussion to include information from the public as well… so once they make a decision, all their recommendations are forwarded to city council. If they accept those, you can say you helped influence or shape public policy.” But not always. Council does not have to accept the recommendations. “That’s happened in a few cases. But more times than not, they are open to recommendations.” By example, he said city council took the city’s DIRT task force’s recommendations on infrastructure projects and financing “verbatim,” and sent it to voters as ballot issue 2E in 2016. But influence is not everything. “Volunteering, in my mind, isn’t about influencing city decisions; it is more about supporting the city’s process,” said Karen Hing of Edgewater, who has served on several commissions and is currently on that city’s Planning & Zoning and Board of Adjustments. “There is a lot of work that needs to be done to be a good steward of the community. Boards, commissions and council all work together. Serving on boards or commissions gives someone an opportunity to represent, and most importantly support, the direction you, your friends, and your neighbors would like to see the city move toward. Your commitment also assures that diverse opinions are vetted through a strong and equitable process.” Like DiTullio, Hing believes influence is not guaranteed. “As a commissioner, you are but one vote among many as you give recommendations to the city council,” said Hing. “Ultimately it is council who makes the final decision. Your personal experience with your neighborhood and neighbors provide insight to the pros/ cons of pending changes to Edgewater. Your experience brings much needed insight the process.” And the opportunities to serve on a board of commission are not always available. The Town Mountain View – a city of about 500 tucked between Wheat Ridge on the south and west, and Lakeside on the north – has limited opportunities for service,

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due to its size. The town’s charter calls for two boards or commissions: the Board of Adjustments and Appeals (BOAA) and a Planning and Zoning Commission (P & Z). “Due to the intimate size of our Town, the BOAA is an active board, while the P & Z Commission's work is done by the Mountain View Town Council,” said Town of Mountain View Mayor Glenn Levy. “While we, as elected officials, would welcome the development of new boards and commissions, due to our diminutive size, it can be challenging to staff such citizen bodies,” said Levy. “As a result, citizens who serve on our six-member Town Council work on zoning, public works, public safety, administrative, and development issues.” Even if not appointed to an open seat, just showing up and participating in commission and board meetings can have an impact. “The (city government) process isn’t as easy to navigate as most think,” said Hing, “but with regular attendance to various public meetings the process starts to make sense. Once a resident understands which body of city officials are responsible for what, it is much easier to effectively get your concerns in front of the proper people. Actually, city council and the mayor are usually not where your voice will make the strongest impact.” Hing explained most land use issues are debated for months in front of Planning and Zoning before a recommendation is made to council. “P&Z’s forum is much less formal that council’s public comment. Your input at P&Z will become a part of the recommendation made to council.” “If you go to the meeting, you have an impact,” said DiTullio. For example, Wheat Ridge’s planning commission meetings are not only opportunities to provide comment, but to learn more and have questions answered. “People see postings on property, but don’t know what’s going on,” DiTullio explained. At the meetings, fears and suspicions of residents can be addressed. “They back off…or (sometimes) find out something they don’t like.” DiTullio said this public input and discussion is what influences the final recommendation to council. “In some ways boards and commission members have more input than city council,” he said. “In some ways they (council) are second-class citizens, because they’re the last to hear.”

Ask The Super Continued from page 9

Questions also arose around the best ways to leverage and use technology in learning, how we would measure our success, and in what order the proposed changes would be sequenced. Other questions emerged on how we support existing and successful programs, while embracing the “entrepreneurial spirit” and innovation called for in the document. Rather than derail our progress, these questions served to sharpen our future direction. Here in the Wheat Ridge area, many of the ideas that are at the heart of the Generations document are well underway. Elementary schools such as Stevens and Stober have wholeheartedly embraced the experience-is-learning approach; and Wheat Ridge High School is already legendary for the hands-on STEM, Gifted/ Talented, and apprenticeship models they have in place. Now, as we turn the page and look forward into this new year, I’m incredibly excited and optimistic about Jeffco Public Schools and where we are headed. We will put ambiguity behind us, and lean into the challenging, exciting, and delightful work of changing the learning experiences for our students. We surge forth into this new era, propelled by the hope for what is possible, and our love for our children. If you have a question for our new superintendent please submit it to Guy@ NostalgicHomes.com or call it in to 303999-5789.

ngazette.com –JANUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 12, 2018 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

WHAT’S HAPPENING Edgewater Needs Snow Angels Currently the City of Edgewater is in need volunteers to provide snow shoveling help to seniors. Volunteers must submit an application and clear a basic background screen before they can be assigned to a senior. The city works to assign the approved volunteer to a senior within the same block, or as close to the volunteer’s residence as possible. Volunteers, once assigned, are given 24 hours after a storm to clear the sidewalks around the senior’s home, although they are encouraged to shovel as soon as possible so the seniors can get in and out of their homes. City staff works to fill in for volunteers that are out of town during a storm. Volunteers tend to not only provide the snow shoveling but also help engage seniors in the community – volunteers often identify other needs seniors may have. If you are looking for a rewarding way to give back to your community and become a Snow Angel, contact Patrick Martinez at 720-763-3010 or visit www. playedgewater.com and look under “volunteer opportunities” and “snow angel program.”

Jeffco LWV Book Club Reading ‘The New Jim Crow’ and ‘My Beloved World’

or www.facebook.com/LWVJeffco, or call 303-238-0032.

Lakewood Arts Gallery Invites Patrons To Do More Than View Art For 30 years the Lakewood Arts Gallery has been a place to not only view artwork from local Colorado artists, but a place to immerse yourself in a creative community that offers fun events such as soup tastings and Valentine teas, musical, literary and performance arts and a chance to further your education with an interesting array of class offerings. The gallery’s winter schedule of classes will include oil painting with Lakewood Arts founder Barb Tobiska; Saturday evening Sip & Pour acrylic workshops; painting underwater scenes on YUPO; learning about copyright law for artists; and even a Yog(a)rt workshop where a vinyasa flow and meditation session is followed by the creation of your own personal mandala. Mosaics, “Drink-n-Ink”, encaustic wax collage and even a mixed-media floral workshop to usher in spring will allow students to fulfill that New Year’s resolution to try something new. All these classes and workshops can be found on the gallery’s website. Call Lakewood Arts Gallery at 303980-0625 or go to lakewoodarts.org to learn more.

Michelle Alexander’s new book, “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,” will be the focus of two January meetings of the Jeffco League of Women Voters. The first will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at the Lakewood Public Library, 10200 W. 20th Ave., Lakewood. The second meeting will be held Saturday, Jan. 20, 9:30 a.m., at Brookdale Westland Meridian, 10695 W. 17th Ave., Lakewood. An advocate and an intellect, Alexander insists that “the huge racial disparity of punishment in America is not the mere result of neutral state action.” She sees mass incarceration as a new front in the historic struggle for racial justice. Next month, the club has chosen Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s coming-of-age memoir, “My Beloved World,” for its February discussion group meetings. “Anyone wondering how a child raised in public housing, without speaking English, by an alcoholic father and a largely absent mother could become the first Latina on the Supreme Court will find the answer in these pages,” wrote The Washington Post. “It didn’t take a village: It took a country.” Two discussion groups will be held on the same book: Saturday, Feb. 17, 9:30 a.m., at the Brookdale Westland Meridian, 10695 W. 17th Ave., Lakewood; and Wednesday, Feb. 21, 1 p.m., at the Golden Public Library, 1019 10th St., Golden. All book club meetings are open to the public. LWV Jeffco is a nonpartisan organization that neither endorses nor opposes candidates. For more information call Lynne at 303-985-5128, visit www.lwvjeffco.org

Local Student Makes Honor Roll at Oregon State

and Federal Heights, 8383 Pecos St., Denver. Other offices are located in south Denver and Aurora. “About 147 million kids drink at least some sugar-sweetened beverage daily, so it’s no wonder one of the top reasons kids miss school is due to dental problems,” said Dr. Matt Stevens, Risas Dental and Braces, Denver South. “What children eat and drink not only affects their oral health, but their overall wellbeing. It’s critical to educate them on the importance of proper care.” In coordination with the American Dental Association’s campaign this year, Risas will host educational programs at local schools, conducting oral health care activities. Each student will leave with a complimentary dental care goody bag, including a toothbrush, toothpaste and more activities. Area schools that are interested in a visit in February with educational oral health activities can email Cwaters@risas.com. Founded in Phoenix in 2011, Risas Dental and Braces embraces a lifelong mission to change the way dentistry is offered in the U.S., making it accessible for all regardless of insurance status or financial situation. Since their inception, Risas has provided over $3 million in free dental care. Parents can make an appointment for the free exam and x-rays at any of Risas Dental’s offices, by calling 720-536-0401. Or they can book online at www.risasdental.com.

Book Group, Stories and Playtime at Edgewater Library Edgewater Library, located at 5843 W. 25th Ave., is offering a continuing cavalcade of free classes and activities for children, teens and adults. Book Group meets Feb. 10 (usually the second Saturday), 1 to 2 p.m., to discuss “When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi. Suitable for adults. Join the library staff for bilingual family fun as they share crafts, stories and rhymes in Spanish during Cuentacuentos en espanol/ Spanish Story Time, every Wednesday from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Suitable for babies, toddlers and preschoolers; children under four must be accompanied by an adult. Get ready to sing, rhyme, dance and read stories during Toddler Time, offered every Thursday, from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Suitable for toddlers, all families are welcome. Baby Time takes place every Monday (except holidays) from 10:30 to 11 a.m., providing bouncing, singing, rhyming and reading stories for babies (even newborns) and their families. Every Tuesday from 11 to 11:45 a.m., the library presents Preschool Time, with stories, singing, rhyming and dancing, followed by a craft. All events are free. For more information, call 303-2355275 or visit jeffcolibrary.org.

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TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

Abraham M. Ojeda of Lakewood made the Scholastic Honor Roll Fall term, according to Oregon State University. Ojeda, pursuing a Post Baccalaureate in Horticulture, earned a straight-A average, according to the school. A total of 1,427 students earned straight-A (4.0), and another 4,483 earned a B-plus (3.5) or better to make the listing. To be on the Honor Roll, students must carry at least 12 graded hours of coursework.

Still Time To Recycle Holiday Lights Recycling of broken or unused holiday lights continues through Jan. 21 at Lakewood's Quail Street Recycling Center, 1068 Quail St. More details are available at Lakewood.org/Recycling.

Risas Dental And Braces Offers Free Exams, X-Rays For Kids Risas Dental and Braces is celebrating National Children’s Dental Health Month in February by offering free exams and x-rays for kids, as well as educating students on proper oral health care at a number of Denver-area schools. The firm will offer free exams and x-rays for all children ages 17 and under Feb. 1 through 28. Risas' nearest dental offices are located in Wheat Ridge, 3815 N. Wadsworth Blvd.,

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NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – JANUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 12, 2018– ngazette.com

Don’t Feed, Befriend or Fool With Foxes n By Sally Griﬃn

ome animals capture the human imagination. This is true in many lands and many times. These animals are imbued with characteristics that seem all too human. This is especially true for the fox. Viewed as the embodiment of trickery, even to the point of treachery, foxes are met with both respect for and disapproval of their craftiness. The word shenanigan (a deceitful trick or mischief) is said to come from the Irish expression sionnachuighim, meaning, “I play the fox.” The story of Goldilocks and the three bears is supposedly derived from an older tale of three bears who live in a castle in the woods that is visited by the fox, Scrapefoot, who drinks their milk, sits in their chairs and sleeps in their beds. Where does this come from and why the fox? In myths, the coyote is a close competitor for trickiness. However, more often than not, Old Man Coyote ends up tricking himself. In the wild, where coyotes and foxes are found together, it is the coyote that wins the day and the territory. However, the fox is almost an archetype (pure embodiment) of living successfully by one’s wits and getting ahead, often at the expense of others. The moral of most stories has the fox as someone to be both admired and loathed. They are seen as a being who is intrinsically untrustworthy. Hence a “foxy lady” is both someone who is appealing and attractive and someone who is not to be trusted. Maybe part of this is because foxes are asocial. They live by themselves. Ironically, when looking at the actions and demeanor of real foxes, there are many reason to doubt many of the myths and tales about foxes. Foxes are found throughout the world, apart from Antarctica. Four out of the five kinds of foxes live successfully in Colorado. These include the most common type – the red foxes – but also swift, kit and gray foxes. Each fox has its own niche habitat in

Colorado. The gray fox lives in areas with lots of brush, the kit and swift fox, who are closely linked in size and hunting habits, live in the desert area shrub-lands. The red fox lives pretty much wherever he wants to live. This includes our area which, not unlike most urban areas in Colorado, is home to many red foxes. They commonly live in areas where they can find the things they need: water, food and places for dens. If humans also want to inhabit those same areas, the fox is willing to share. Foxes become accustomed to human activity and are seldom aggressive toward people. The red fox is best identified by its reddish coat, black legs and ears, and long, white-tipped, bushy tail. But according to the Colorado Division of Wildlife, they can also be jet black or silver with white accents. Foxes, while part of Canidae family (the same family as wolves and coyotes) are much smaller and much less strong than other canids. They weigh from 6 to 31 pounds, stand 14 to 20 inches tall and are 17 to 36 inches long. Their tail adds 12 to 21 inches to their length. For such a small creature, the red fox is a beautiful sight. Watching a red fox hunt in deep snow is a wonderful experience. Their red coat is striking against the white of the snow. The fox sits so quietly that you wonder what he is doing. But if you watch carefully, you will see his ears twitching just slightly. Suddenly, he crouches, then jumps high in the air and his landing digs a sudden deep hole in the snow. At the bottom of the hole is a mouse that is quickly dispensed with and carried off to one of the fox’s dens for storage, or, depending on the time of year, to the main den where hungry kits wait. Experts say that foxes can pounce up to 16 feet to land on their prey. Their hearing is highly developed which allows them to hunt even in deep snow. The omnivorous red fox is skilled at hunting, in addition to rodents, rabbits and birds, and birds’ eggs. They will also eat insects,

grasshoppers, fish, crawfish and worms. Occasionally, they like desserts of fruit, berries and nuts. Red foxes often live alone, on a range of 5 to 10 square miles, depending on food availability. In urban settings they tolerate each other in closer proximity because more food is available. Although they are spotted at all times of day, they tend to be more active at dawn and dusk. Their eating habits are what get them in trouble with the humans with whom they cohabitate. The old saying about “The fox in the hen house,” is based on the ability of a single fox to decimate the population of the hen house or rabbit hutch in an amazingly short period of time. Also, danger to small pets, particularly those under 10 pounds, is possible, although typically rare. The other threat from foxes involve diseases like rabies and mange. In fact, the City of Wheat Ridge has recently experienced an increase in calls reporting foxes with Sarcoptic Mange. This is an infestation of mites on the animal’s skin, which can cause hair loss, severe irritation and can cause death to the animal. It is highly contagious to humans and pets. The good news is that foxes are very shy

and will usually avoid people. However, if they have found your area to be a good or easy source of food, they are likely to return when they don’t think you are around. And their reputation is well deserved. They will find ways to tease guard dogs. They quickly adapt to noise-making devices and flashing lights, which provide only a temporary deterrent. A combination of frightening devices used at irregular intervals may keep the foxes from figuring them out. If noise and light at random times will drive you nuts, another deterrent is Mylar balloons bobbing around the protected areas. Most authorities agree that the best bet is to simply deny the foxes access to food sources, including vulnerable livestock. Experts suggest: • Never feed foxes. • Do not try to befriend them. • Monitor your pets’ activities when they are outside. • Provide backyard poultry and rabbits with good, secure housing. • Prevent foxes from denning under porches, decks or outbuildings. • If you spot a sick fox in Wheat Ridge, call animal control at 303-237-2220.