Neighborhood Gazette – October 2018 by Neighborhood Gazette

EDGEWATER MAYOR Information To Consider For The Nov. 6 Election Page 4

NEIGHBORHOOD THEATER Scads O’ Scary Cinema For Halloween (And More!) Page 6

WHAT'S HAPPENING Children’s Day International Film Festival, Nov. 10 & 11 Page 11

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| SLOAN’S LAKE | WEST COLFAX | TWO CREEKS | WEST HIGHLAND October 16 – November 14, 2018 • ngazette.com • FREE

40 West Arts District Secures Two Major Grants n By

Liz Black

0 West Arts District is thrilled to announce that we have secured two major grant opportunities for the 2019 calendar year. As a 501(c)3 non-profi t organization with almost exclusively free or discounted programming, our grant partners are essential to everything we do, from arts events to logistics and, of course, the 40 West ArtLine, a four-mile walkable, bikeable outdoor art gallery that was installed in its fi rst phase in June of this year. Our fi rst grant award is from SCFD, the Scientifi c and Cultural Facilities District. For nearly 25 years SCFD has been supporting a fl ourishing landscape of over 300 science, historical, arts and cultural organizations. More than one million students, seniors and families take part in free programming supported by SCFD. To be a part of the SCFD family is a huge accomplishment for 40 West Arts and we are honored to have been awarded this grant. Our second grant award comes from Community First Foundation for use along the 40 West ArtLine in both public art projects and wayfi nding improvements. Community First Continued on page 4

40 WEST ART DISTRICT’S FIRST FRIDAY DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION on Nov. 2 will include ﬁre artists, Aztec dancers and many of the elements of a traditional celebration, 6 to 10 p.m., at 1560 Teller St.

Who’s Running For State Legislature – And Why? n By

Mike McKibbin

hree Colorado House seats and one state Senate seat will be decided in part by Neighborhood Gazette voters in this month’s general election on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters between Oct. 15 and 19, drop boxes to return those ballots will be open between Oct. 15 and Election Day, while voter service polling centers will be open from Oct. 22 through Election Day.

Gonzales-Gutierrez has worked with victim’s advocates supporting domestic violence victims, as a youth counselor, social caseworker and now director for the Denver Collaborative Partnership. If elected, Gonzales-Gutierrez would work to make education accessible and aff ordable from early childhood through college and address aff ordable housing with legislation and funding that includes housing trusts and expanded tax credits. She would sponsor legislation that combats

House District 4 House District 4 (all or some of the West Colfax corridor between Sheridan and Federal, Denver North and West neighborhoods of the Highlands, Villa Park, Sloan’s Lake, Barnum, Berkeley, Sunnyside and Sun Valley), has Democrat Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez running against Republican Robert “Dave” John. GonzalesGutierrez won a three-way primary while John was unopposed. In a short YouTube video, John called Colorado a “wonderful state” when he arrived but blamed “misguided and incompetent” Democratic leadership for creating gridlock and corruption, “with no common sense in our spending priorities.” If elected, John said he would focus on quality of life issues, like roads, education, crime, homelessness, taxes and basic human rights such as the freedom of religion and the Second Amendment. He also listed support for individual liberty, limited government, the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, government transparency, legal immigration and school choice. John retired after 35 years as a City of Denver employee. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Colorado State University and is married with one son.

climate change, protects public lands, water resources and clean air. The seat is currently held by state Rep. Dan Pabon, (D), who cannot run for reelection. State representatives can serve no more than four consecutive two-year terms.

House District 23

House District 23 (all or some of Wheat

Ridge, Lakewood, Applewood, East Pleasant View, the West Colfax corridor/40 West Arts District) features incumbent Democrat Chris Kennedy and Republican challenger Joan Poston. Kennedy is seeking his second term and wrote on his campaign website that his top priority has been to increase transparency in health care spending. Kennedy sponsored Continued on page 8

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

RAW Mural Project Brightens Cheltenham Elementary School n By

Mike McKibbin

any of the walls at Cheltenham Elementary School do not look like the normal, blank, brick walls of a school building. They are colorfully decorated with imaginative mural paintings, thanks to a Miami, Florida-based nonprofi t program called the Reimagining Arts Worldwide (RAW) Project. With the key help of around 30 volunteer artists, 23 murals — including some on inside corridor walls as well — were painted over about three weeks in September. Principal Felice Manzanares said the project was done “in the right place, at the right time.” “This school was built in 1970 and it was really unrecognizable as a school building with nothing but blank walls,” she said. “We want it to look like a place where there are kids and people can say ‘that’s a school’.” In September 2017, The RAW Project painted murals on three Denver elementary schools in the Villa Park and Sun Valley neighborhoods: Eagleton, Cowell and Fairview, branching out from Miami’s Wynwood urban arts district where the project began in 2014. Another area school Continued on page 6

FLAMINGOS, BY FL MNGO FROM MIAMI, is one of several murals painted by volunteer artists at Cheltenham Elementary School. PHOTO BY MIKE MCKIBBIN

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – OCTOBER 16 – NOVEMBER 14, 2018 – ngazette.com

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Former Mayor Speaks Out On Ballot Questions 2F Removes Voter Approval

“While you were sleeping … Congress gave themselves a raise.” How many times have we read or heard those words? The Edgewater City Council is asking for the power to increase council’s pay, at any time, without voter approval. Council usually meets once a month for about three hours per meeting. In addition, most spend time reviewing information and meeting with the City Manager. On top of their salaries the city pays for council members to attend the annual CML conferences in cities like Vail and Breckenridge. Do council members deserve higher compensation? Maybe, maybe not, but council should present their reasons, and let the voters decide. Vote no on 2F!

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The City Clerk calls roll at each council meeting. All council members’ attendance is a matter of public record, and easily tracked. The Charter states council members must attend 70 percent of council meetings. Regardless of why one might be absent, if a member doesn’t attend they cannot do what they were elected to do. Thirty percent attendance is a pretty low standard. If a council member can’t meet this standard, ethically they should resign and allow another person to serve in their place. If they do not resign, council can remove them. The only purpose for requiring written notice of poor attendance is to help a council member avoid being removed. If 2G is approved, council will lose the power to, on a case-by-case basis, determine whether or not they want to provide written notice of a pending declaration of dereliction. Vote no on 2G!

2H Filling Council Vacancies After An Election

Should a vacancy on council occur within 180 days after an election, the outcome of the election determines who fills the vacancy. The next highest vote getter gets the vacant council seat, as if the seat were open before the election. This is a way to seat council with people who actually earned a place on the ballot. To be on the ballot, candidates must get at least 25 signatures from Edgewater voters. These candidates have opened themselves up to public scrutiny, and most spend time talking with citizens and getting to know Edgewater’s needs. If 2H passes the seat could be filled by someone who simply fills out the same application as all other Edgewater boards or commissions. These applicants are not required to obtain any voter support, and have rarely reached out for community input. This 180-day provision is unique to Edgewater and we should keep it. Vote no on 2H!

2I Election Commission

The provision to maintain an Election Commission needs to go away. For years the city has coordinated its elections with Jefferson County. Very rarely do we hold special elections, but if needed council can still create this commission. Vote yes on 2I! Bonnie McNulty, former Mayor of Edgewater

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Vote ‘Yes’ On Ballot Question 2F It makes sense — and it’s only fair — to allow Edgewater city councils to set the pay of future Edgewater mayors and city councilors by ordinance rather than requiring a vote of residents. I know from 10 years of watching my

neighbor (a former councilor and current mayor) just how many hours of work she puts in. But the average resident may not know all the study, meeting time and effort entailed in making Edgewater this bustling little city on the rise. Pay was set in 2001 at $300 a month for council members and $500 a month for the mayor. Our elected officials are not making anything near a minimum hourly wage. Our councilors serve largely because they are dedicated to making Edgewater a better place to live. They’ve been succeeding. Edgewater has been thriving and is experiencing stronger revenues and more and more complicated issues and projects. Council’s pay should never be so great that it’s the motive to serve, but Edgewater residents also should be willing to compensate people for their time at a respectful rate. Reasonable pay increases, which would be thoroughly examined in a public process before a council vote, would help grow the pool of local residents who could afford to take time to serve. The current pay structure only works for people who are retired or financially set. Why not open this up to a greater crosssection of city dwellers who could bring different perspectives and talents. By comparison, similarly sized Sheridan pays council members 50 percent more than what we pay ours. Electa Draper, Edgewater

Yes On 2H Purges A Peculiar Law Fellow Citizens of Edgewater, Peculiar laws are common in communities large or small, and Edgewater is no exception. I’m glad to see ballot question 2H to amend our charter and eliminate the 180day rule. While it might seem reasonable to award a recently vacant seat to the next candidate with the greatest number of votes, it directly contradicts the will of the people. For almost half a year a candidate who didn’t earn enough votes to win has the potential of gaining a seat should a vacancy be found for any reason whatsoever. It is absurd that our charter directs this action contrary to the demonstrated will of the Edgewater voters. Yet this is how our law currently functions. Whether we like it or not, the results of the election are negated. Are we so desperate to fill a seat on our large council that we do so with whoever is next best, or, possibly one who received the fewest votes? The city will be better served by purging this oddity of election law from our charter. Please join me and vote in favor of Question 2H. David Fleck, former Edgewater Councilman

More Than 15 Units For Sale At Lakehouse? In last month’s edition of the Neighborhood Gazette (“15 Units Still For Sale At Lakehouse”), we erroneously reported the number of homes remaining for sale in the Lakehouse development, based on listings in the Multiple Listing Service. Lakehouse is over 20 percent sold with available homes priced from the low $500,000s to $3.3 million, according to Paul Suter of Suter Media Relations. Project completion is expected in 2019. “As I understand things, MLS had 15 units listed and gave the impression that was all that was left at Lakehouse,” said Suter. “As with most new construction developments, only a sampling of units is listed on MLS.” We stand corrected. –Editor

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ngazette.com – OCTOBER 16 – NOVEMBER 14, 2018 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

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EDGEWATER MAYOR Information To Consider For The Nov. 6 Election n By

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EDGEWATER COLLECTIVE Increasing Equity and Expanded Opportunities Through Funding n By

Joel Newton

he Edgewater Collective board has decided to come out in support of three school funding initiatives here in our county and in Colorado. Jeffco Public Schools is seeking a mill and bond increase to pay teachers more (5A) and renovate school buildings (5B). There also is a statewide

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policy decisions that focus on zoning, land use, liquor, marijuana, licensing, ordinance enforcement, affordable housing initiatives, environmental protection, and prohibitions of undesirable uses to come under attack if a plaintiff simply alleges such an action or regulation reduces a property's fair market value. Local governments need to invest in services for residents: police, fire, transportation and critical government functions, not paying for costly litigation that would undermine the quality of life and economic health of our communities.

At the November 6 election Edgewater voters will have the opportunity to amend Edgewater’s charter: to remove the requirement for a vote of the people before the compensation of future council members can be increased; require written notice to a council member of a certain percentage of meetings missed before the council member can be deemed “derelict in duty” for failure to attend council meetings; remove the requirement for filling certain vacancies on council by Laura Keegan Proposition 110 appointment of the candidate who Please vote yes: For only about 6 cents received the highest number of votes at the per $10 spent, this provides a guaranteed last election but who did not earn a council and sustainable solution to Colorado’s seat therein; and remove the provisions that transportation crisis. It’s the ONLY establish a local election commission and solution on the ballot that provides the set forth the duties of the commission. transportation relief you need for BOTH Edgewater City Council discussed and local and state transportation projects. came to the unanimous conclusion that these changes would improve the way our city functions and simplify the democratic Amendment 73 process. We are using our two columns to Please vote yes: This builds on show our support and why council moved successes of Colorado’s public schools by these issues to the ballot for consideration by expanding educational opportunities for our voters. All of council, Cory Reid-Vanas, students preparing them for success in Janet Spangenberg, Caleb Rountree, John college, career and life. This funds through Beltrone, Kara Swanson, Kate Mulcahy, tax increments on income earned above Steve Conklin and I will be voting yes on $150,000 and on corporations and ensures these four ballot issues. that decisions about how to use those new On a few state ballot Amendments and funds are made at the local level. To provide Propositions: sustainable support for schools for years to come, it stabilizes the volatile local share of education funding by first lowering property Amendment 74 tax rates and then freezing the rates, which Please vote “no” on this: This are third lowest in the nation. amendment to our state’s constitution Edgewater Mayor Laura Keegan can presents far too many unintended be reached at lkeegan@edgewaterco.com consequences and would be very difficult or 303-232-0745 (landline). to reverse. It would cause all municipal

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Foundation has been helping innovative non-profit organizations since 1975 to improve the quality of life and create positive change in Jefferson County, Denver and beyond. This grant award will ensure that the 40 West ArtLine continues to grow and expand its public art offerings in 2019, and allows us to continue the momentum and energy of this outstanding amenity in the District. The 40 West ArtLine is part of a major effort to encourage and promote the West Colfax corridor as an economic and cultural destination and is envisioned to be a place for community interaction and inspiration, and eventually to become the longest continuous arts experience in Colorado. 40 West Arts extends a huge thank you to its grant partners, Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) and Community First Foundation. Learn more about us at 40westarts.org or 40westartline.org.

amendment to increase school funding (Amendment 73). Edgewater Collective supports and advocates for teachers and schools in the Jefferson Area so that all students can successfully transition into college or career. We support increased funding for education through Amendment 73 and the Jeffco mill and bond (5A/5B) to increase equity and expand opportunities for our students. Our area students face some big speed bumps on the road to college or career success and they need targeted resources to help them succeed. We believe this new funding will provide the needed resources to attract and keep the best teachers in our classrooms and bring in more supports for our students. We encourage Jefferson County and Colorado residents to research these three initiatives. Visit wearejeffco.com to learn more.

Jefferson Alumni Gathering: Honoring George Heath

Edgewater Collective is organizing a second Jefferson Alumni Gathering on Saturday, Nov. 10 to honor George Heath. Heath was a history teacher at Jefferson High School from 1961 to 1993. The gathering will be at 6 p.m. at Jefferson Junior/Senior High School. Invite fellow alumni to attend this great chance to honor a longtime teacher at Jefferson and catch up with fellow alumni. Email Joel Newton at joel@edgewatercollective.org with your favorite memories of Mr. Heath. We will be compiling them for the gathering.

ngazette.com – OCTOBER 16 – NOVEMBER 14, 2018 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

EDGEWATER CITY COUNCIL Edgewater 2018 Ballot Issues 2G. We’re asking for the ability to tell someone when they’ve missed too many meetings. It’s really that simple. For most of dgewater has four very important ballot council, we have careers and commitments initiatives we’re bringing to voters this outside of the city: jobs, families, weddings, year. Before we dive in, a statement from council members Caleb Rountree, Steve funerals, hospitalizations, and other Conklin, Kara Swanson, Cory Reid-Vanas, demands that may force us to miss meetings. Janet Spangenberg, John Beltrone, Kate 2G allows us to advise a councilmember when they reach the 20 percent mark. Mulcahy and Laura Keegan: 2H. The current rule “City Council has identifi ed says that if there is a vacancy four issues within Edgewater's in the 180 days following Charter that it believes should an election the runner up is be updated. As representatives automatically appointed. This of our citizens, it is Council’s means that even if someone responsibility to bring these who may have received only issues to the voters for one vote or is deemed a weak consideration. Eff ectively, it is up candidate with little public to the voters to decide if Council’s support, we are forced to suggestions are necessary appoint them to fi ll a vacancy. updates to Edgewater’s Charter. What we’re asking is to get Whether you’re for or against rid of the 180-day rule and Caleb Rountree these changes, we stand with then vacancies would be fi lled our process as thoughtful and by either council appointment, special democratic; placing the fi nal decision in the election, or at the next regular election. This hands of the community.” way, we’re making sure the most qualifi ed Our town has seen unprecedented and dedicated people are representing growth and development over the past few you, not the people who received little years. To keep this moving, we need to voter support or confi dence. This is in make Edgewater more effi cient and more keeping with how many municipalities representative of our community. That’s fi ll vacancies, including all other cities in why we’re asking you to vote yes on ballot Jeff erson County. questions 2F, 2G, 2H, and 2I. 2I. Edgewater’s Election Commission 2F. Don’t worry, we’re not doing this to used to help run our elections. For the raise our own pay. In fact, we aren’t legally past several years the functions of the allowed to change our own pay. What council commission have been handled entirely is asking is to align Edgewater’s procedure by Jeff erson County. By voting yes on 2I, for adjusting council pay with the rest of the you’re formally ending what informally died cities in Jeff erson County. We’re currently years ago. the only city in the county that adjusts pay Please vote! through an election. If approved, council Edgewater City Council member Caleb will be able to adjust pay for future councils, Rountree can be reached at crountree@ but not our own. edgewaterco.com or at 501-650-2747.

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NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – OCTOBER 16 – NOVEMBER 14, 2018 – ngazette.com

NEIGHBORHOOD THEATER

What’s Happening in the WRBA

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Congrats to Post Oak Hall Helliemae’s Wheat Ridge for theirrecent ribbon cutting Thanks to Wheat Ridge Business District for the facade grant, looks great.

What a great October Breakfast Meeting this morning with our amazing Speaker Jayne Sanders with Purpose Wisdom, “Learning your Purpose that is etched into your Hands”

November Membership Breakfast

Please register for this meeting before 5pm on Thursday, November 8

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t wouldn’t be a proper October at the Alamo Drafthouse Denver if the theater did not have a plethora of scary movies scheduled to frighten audiences throughout the month. Among the films on the calendar for the rest of this month are “Beetlejuice,” which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. As the Alamo suggests, un-live all the undead fun of the film with “DAY-O” conga lines, spooky props galore and all kinds of fun for the Recently Deceased (Oct. 21, three different screenings). Fans of Joan Crawford won’t want to miss the 1964 film “Straight-Jacket” in which Crawford plays a woman who has just been released from a mental institution, where she was sent after murdering her husband with an ax (Oct. 21, noon). The Alamo has a double feature with the original version of “Phantom of the Opera” and the film “Vampyr.” Both will have a live score. Rounding out the frightful films is a 4K restoration of John Carpenter’s 1984 movie “The Fog” (Oct. 31, 9:15 p.m.) Moviegoers who aren’t fans of horror films have a selection that will appeal to them, including the 1983 film “BMX Bandits,” for which director Brian Trenchard-Smith will on-hand to talk about the movie. Nicole Kidman fans may enjoy the fact that BMX Bandits is her first film (Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m.) The Film/STILL presentation for October is “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and BAMI.” This electrifying journey through the public and private worlds of pop culture mega-icon Grace Jones contrasts musical sequences with intimate personal footage, all the while brimming with Jones's bold aesthetic (Oct. 24, 7 p.m.)

RAW Project Continued from page 1

included in the local project was Garden Place Elementary. Since 2014, The RAW Project completed more than 130 school murals, working with artists ranging from recent graduates to established international blue-chip talent, such as Shepard Fairey, D*Face, Axel Void and Mark “MADSTEEZ” Deren. Among the positive results attributed to the RAW Project are an increase in student and community engagement, improved student and staff morale, school pride, enrollment, class attendance, test scores and decreased bullying and violence. Manzanares said one project benefit she noticed were happier parents who visited the school. “They come to the school and see the paintings and they’re more open, smiling and proud of the school,” she added. “We’ve heard people say they were really glad to see us do something cool with the school.” In 2016, the RAW Project expanded as a campaign to support the creation of arts programs at schools nationwide. In the U.S., six million students receive no arts education and 60 percent of schools have seen their arts programs lose all funding. Manzanares said about 96 percent of Cheltenham’s 390 students come from lowincome families, are eligible for the free lunch program and the school does not have much of an arts program. “This is a chance to bring in folks that have not engaged with us before,” she added. “And these are all well-known artists.” The school, 1580 Julian St., held a First Friday Art Walk event on Oct. 5 for parents and community members to see and learn more about each mural. The project did not cost the school any money, Manzanares noted, while Denver Public Schools paid for a protective coating on each wall where the murals were painted.

A few of the films on the Alamo Drafthouse Denver’s calendar for November include Chilean director Sebastian Lelio’s “Disobedience.” Presented in partnership with JAAMM Fest! The film tackles a lesbian love affair within London’s Orthodox Jewish community (Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m.), “Austin Powers – International Man of Mystery” (Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m.) and “Take it Out in Trade,” the legendary lost final film from Ed Wood (Nov. 6, 7:45 p.m.) For tickets and showtimes, visit www. drafthouse.com/denver.

Rodents Return! The Rodents of Unusual Size return on Nov. 3 for their monthly improv comedy show at the Wheat Ridge Grange, 3850 High Ct. The November performance will benefit the Living Spectrum, an organization whose mission is to provide unbiased support to families of a child with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5. (Families with three or more pay only $15 total.) For more information visit www.coloradoimprov.com.

Each RAW Project has a budget of around $150,000, but organizers only raised less than $30,000 for the Cheltenham project, said Audrey Sykes, co-founder/director of the RAW Project. The Denver Urban Arts Fund contributed $8,000 and Sykes credited in-kind donations worth about $80,000 for things such as lifts, food and paint discounts with helping make the project — the eighth nationally — happen. “The private donors are not friends and family, they are art collectors and artists who want to see the project happen,” Sykes added. “And Felicia took the initiative and asked her staff and teachers to help feed the artists, so they were spoiled with all the good home-cooked food. They covered all the lunches and saved us about $10,000.” Manzanares pointed out the artists involve the students in deciding what to paint and some students help the artists paint. “The kids will remember the process and they can say they helped,” she said. Other principals have asked Manzanares how they can get the RAW Project to help beautify their buildings, while Sykes said there have been preliminary talks with Netflix about highlighting the RAW Project and the schools involved. A school assembly featured time-lapse photos to show how each mural was painted, Sykes added. “It’s fun to watch the different ages react,” she said. “The pre-kindergarten kids were running up and touching each one because they were just so colorful. The older kids asked the artists things like how they make the eyes look so real. And the teachers turn every opportunity into a learning moment. The artists want to give back and when they see how the kids interact with their painting, the satisfaction is so worthwhile.” Manzanares added the playground seems to be used more often on weekends. “Art brings people together and one thing we learned from this is to include everyone in our community,” she said. “We’re just thrilled that everyone seems to love this project as much as we do.”

ngazette.com – OCTOBER 16 – NOVEMBER 14, 2018 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

See Refugee Stories In Art And Film At Edge

NEIGHBORHOOD ARTS Día de los Muertos Comes to First Friday n By

Nancy Hahn

he 40 West Art District will hold a huge event celebrating many elements of Diá de los Muertos or Day of the Dead from 6 to 10 p.m. on First Friday, Nov. 2. Pirate: Contemporary Art, at 7130 W. 16th Ave., brought this celebration to the 40 West Art District last year and there will be fun for everyone. So, what is Día de los Muertos? Is it like Halloween? Both Halloween and Día de los Muertos began as festivals during the fall, when the harvest provided plentiful food for celebrating. Diá de los Muertos is celebrated in Mexico and many other Hispanic countries and usually takes place Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. Halloween, with its pagan roots, began as a night that the spirits of the dead rose up to walk with the living. On the night of Oct. 31, people left food and treats outside their doors for the spirits. With luck the spirits would enjoy the food and the home would be left alone. Carved vegetables lit with embers from the fire were used to frighten the spirits away. In contrast, Día de los Muertos celebrates memories of loved ones who have died. Scholars believe the holiday began 3,000 years ago with Aztec traditions honoring the dead. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico in the 1500s, they tried to abolish the holiday. Instead the holiday gradually changed to a celebration blended with Christianity. Families today often spend Día de los Muertos visiting the graves of family members. The family prays to encourage the loved one on their journey. They often build altars, called ‘ofrendas’, decorated with favorite foods of the loved one and with marigolds. Orange and yellow marigolds

symbolize a light to guide the loved one back to visit their loved ones. Candles are, also, lit to provide a guide. Almost every decoration has a symbolic meaning. Dogs are often part of the decorations to help guide the spirits to their place in the afterlife. Skulls and skeletons symbolize both birth and death. Delicate cuttings of tissue paper may be added to show how fragile life can be. White decorations symbolize hope, while purple ones show sorrow. Families may picnic at the grave, tell stories, share memories, light a candle, and bring treats to leave at the grave. While they often bring the favorite food of the loved ones, fancy decorated sugar skulls are special treats associated with Día de los Muertos. 40 West Art District’s First Friday Día de los Muertos celebration on Nov. 2 will include many of the elements of a traditional celebration and much more! Traditionally dressed Aztec dancers will remind the audience of the celebration’s ancient Aztec origins. There will also be fire artists creating amazing, large shadow and light displays with spinning fire. All the creative businesses and art galleries in the 40 West Art District will be open and celebrating from 5 to 9 p.m. Check out all the unique work at each of them. Live music, special vendors and food trucks add to the fun for everyone. Beer and wine will be available. Local school children have built altars to be on display during the celebration. The children created other work to be on display, also. For children visiting the event there will be special fun. Artists will be offering Día de los Muertos face painting. Piñatas will add to the fun for children, too.

n By

Nancy Hahn

dge: a Contemporary Art Gallery at 7001 W. Colfax will highlight the experiences and the concerns of refugees throughout the world in “Voice: A Celebration of Refugee Stories” through Oct. 28. Imagine leaving your home with only what you can carry. What could make you take that step? Imagine you know you will never see that home again. What would you choose to carry? You don’t know where you will go or how you will live. We have seen news stories of people fleeing floods, fires, even volcanoes and it is horrifying. A refugee, though, is a person who has had to flee from his or her home or country, because of the actions of other people. War, persecution and violence create refugees. Their homeland may practice genocide against their race or against their nationality. Their religion may not be accepted and its practice may be prohibited. Political dissidents may face imprisonment and torture and protesters fired on. According to CARE there are 65 million refugees in the world right now. Twentyfour people a minute leave their home behind searching for a safe life. That is 34,000 people every day. The conflict in Syria, alone, has caused 5 million people to flee and that number increases daily. In 2016, there were 65.6 million refugees worldwide according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. Nearly 85,000 refugees of those refugees came to the United States. Nearly half of those refugees entering the United States came from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria and Burma. Many, also, came from Iraq, Somalia and Iran. People who leave home because of natural disasters are not, at this time, considered refugees. The United Nations

has begun studying the number of people who have left their homes because of drought, environmental disasters and other effects of climate change and people fleeing natural disasters may be considered as refugees in the future. “Voice” will show art about the experiences of refugees and artwork by refugee artists. And on Friday, Oct. 19, from 7 to 9 p.m., Edge will hold a film and discussion night. The film “Sauti” – which means “voice” in Swahili – is a powerful film that tells of the experiences of five young women from different countries in a refugee camp in Uganda. Refugee camps are meant to be temporary settlements for displaced people, but often become nearly permanent. The Kyangwali Refugee Settlement has stood for decades. Each of these young women was brought to the camp as children. They grew up in the camp. As they reach adulthood, they each try to discover ways to follow their dreams to a life outside the camp. The film follows each of the girls as they leave the camp and create their own lives. Farming, marriage, travel, education and serving the community are some of their dreams. Peninah, Betty, Napona, Beatrice and Favourite follow very different paths in their searches. The film won awards last year at the International New York Film Festival, the Oregon Film Awards, the Spotlight Documentary Film Award. This year it received another award at the Amsterdam International Filmmaker Festival. Don’t miss this powerful experience. Visit Edge for the stories of struggle and triumph viewed through the lens of film and of art. Edge is open on Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Colfax Art Crawl & Diá de los Muertos celebration!

Friday, November 2, 2018 from 5-9 pm Fire artists, Aztec dancers and a district-wide Diá de los Muertos celebration. It’s all happening on First Friday in November. 40 West Arts District invites the public to a huge celebration based loosely around the theme of Diá de los Muertos on First Friday November 2nd from 5-9pm. All of our galleries, studios and creative businesses will be open to the public and visitors to the district will see multiple exhibits inspired by Diá de los Muertos including altars and pieces by local grade school students. Watch Aztec dancers in traditional costume and see ﬁre artists, who will be on hand spinning ﬁre to brighten the winter night in a display of light and shadow. This kid & family event will also showcase piñatas, Diá de los Muertos face painting, live music and local vendors. Sip beer and wine while you’re here, or enjoy a bite at a local food truck. This fun, immersive event is not to be missed.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: 2018 Election The Neighborhood Gazette will not be endorsing candidates or ballot initiatives, but does wish all candidates good luck with their campaigns and thanks them for their devotion to public service. Individual staff members may be involved in political campaigns, but they do not speak officially for the newspaper. That being said, we encourage all readers who are eligible to vote to register and cast ballots, after researching the background and positions of the candidates, as well as ballot issues. County and municipal governments have issued “Blue Book” summaries of ballot issues, and we encourage readers to study those and seek additional information, if necessary.

2018 Elections Continued from page 1

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a bill the last two years to require hospitals to submit more data to the state to help analyze price and utilization trends and identify changes to reduce costs. “Partisan politics and special interest opposition groups killed both bills, but I will continue to bring this legislation forward as we will be unable to address the rising costs of health care without the necessary insight into hospitals’ spending,” Kennedy wrote. Kennedy received a bachelor of architectural engineering degree from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2002. Poston’s campaign website explained a 2013 visit to a museum dedicated to President John F. Kennedy at Dealey Plaza in Dallas inspired her to seek political office. “I believe in citizen government and will serve you, the people of Jefferson County, in the most transparent and honest means possible,” she wrote. Poston was one of three candidates for an at-large seat on the Denver school board in 2013 and ran for Denver city clerk in 2015. She earned a bachelor of science in microbiology and medical technology degree from Colorado State University, then worked as a medical technologist with Denver Health and the Denver Zoo until retirement. Poston was also a reading assistant in Denver Public Schools for five years and served on the district accountability committee. Poston and her husband have one child.

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House District 24 (all or some of Wheat Ridge, Edgewater, Arvada, Lakewood, Golden, Lakeside, Mountain View, Applewood, Fairmount and West Pleasant View) has Democrat Monica Duran facing Republican Arthur Erwin. Duran, a current Wheat Ridge City Council member, defeated former Edgewater mayor Kris Teegardin in the Democratic primary. Erwin had no primary opponent, lives in Golden and his website noted he is the human resource director at a major local auto dealership where he has worked for nearly 30 years. “I am a firm believer in the Constitution and all it stands for,” Erwin wrote. “I am against abortion. I am also against recriminalizing it. I am not a professional politician, I haven’t been serving in political jobs and committees. As a result, I still view issues as a member of this community. I will remember who elected me, serving them, the citizens. I am the only candidate who

has agreed to voluntary spending limits.” In 2015, Duran helped lead the campaign for Wheat Ridge Issue 300, a city charter amendment requiring voter approval on tax increment financing. Duran’s website noted she would stand up to the Trump and Betsy DeVos agenda of privatizing the education system, for better teacher pay and expanded vocational and technical training programs for high school students. Duran wants to let any Coloradan purchase health insurance through the state’s Medicaid program if it’s a cheaper public option for them. Duran also supports women’s rights and pro-choice legislation, along with gun control measures that keep weapons out of the hands of violent and unstable people, guns out of classrooms and military-style assault weapons off the streets. This seat is currently held by state Rep. Jessie Danielson, (D), who is running for the state Senate.

Senate District 34 Senate District 34 (all or some of Denver, Sloan’s Lake, Berkeley and the West Colfax corridor between Sheridan and Federal boulevards) has Democrat Julie Gonzales, policy director for the Meyer Law Office in Denver, facing Republican Gordon Alley, an associate pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church. Gonzales defeated her two primary opponents while Alley was unopposed. Among the accomplishments listed on Gonzales’ website is helping draft a bill that allowed Colorado undocumented students to attend college and pay in-state tuition and the creation of immigrant drivers licenses. Gonzales also helped pass legislation to ensure no Denver resources would be spent on immigration enforcement. Gordon and his wife, Rachel, have 12 children — “nine living and three in heaven through miscarriage” — according to his campaign website. Gordon, his parents, Pastor and Mrs. Rodger Alley, and his sister, Kristina Joy Alley, “have been showing people in Senate District 34 by their example in their life and through Biblical counseling how to have a strong marriage, rear obedient children and prosper financially and in business,” the website reads. On his campaign Facebook page, Gordon wrote, “I will stand up against evil in the Colorado State Senate by supporting bills that will make our community a safer place for you and your family, not invite criminals to move in!” The current officeholder is state Sen. Lucia Guzman (D), the assistant minority leader. State senators are limited to two consecutive four-year terms and Guzman cannot seek reelection.

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ngazette.com – OCTOBER 16 – NOVEMBER 14, 2018 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

Ravens: Mischievous, Intelligent And Unlikely To Forget n By

Sally Griﬃn

n the book, “Lords of the Air,” Jake Page and Eugene Morton talk about how in some Native American cultures, ”The raven is something of a cultural hero where the bird’s evident intelligence and mischievousness are well noted.” Rick Sinnott, a wildlife Biologist in Alaska, knows how intelligent ravens are. He is studying the habits of ravens at Fort Richardson, near Anchorage. To do this he has to capture them, tag them and strap tiny radio transmitters to their backs. His devices to capture these ravens included using what ravens fi nd irresistible: Cheetos. But soon the ravens found out that his Cheetos were something to avoid. “They know that Cheetos are bad news,” said Sinnott. “They all leave the area as soon as I throw Cheetos on the ground. The thing is every time you mess with one of these guys, that’s just that many more ravens who know what you’re up to.” There is no doubt that ravens are some of the most intelligent of bird species. The ability to plan is a supposed unique quality among humans. But a study last year by Martin Osvath showed that ravens think about the consequence of delayed gratifi cation, something demonstrated so far only in people. When the birds knew that waiting a delayed period would mean a greater reward, they would anticipate that reward and show self-control in the face of more immediate temptations, i.e., food. These are all key components in planning. They also have good memories. They can recall friends and perceived enemies for years after meeting them. Ravens show the ability to perform complex actions that nature does not demand of them, and they do it without testing or trial and error. They can observe the situation and behave as if they know what they’re doing. For some scientists this demonstrates the use of logic – something that is lacking in most animals. When we lived in Conifer, we had to leave our can on garbage pick-up day a lengthy distance from the house, down a long driveway. We kept fi nding the can empty and the garbage picked through and strewn about. We fi nally staked out a position on our deck where we could still see the can, looking for a stray dog or bear causing the damage. Nope. It was a very large mountain raven. And this raven managed to fi nd ways into our garbage despite our numerous and varied attempts to stop his marauding. It

was almost as if he enjoyed the challenge. He would caw at us from a tall tree as he watched our eff orts and, as soon as we left, he would swoop down to unravel the newest puzzle. A large rock on top of the lid was laughingly simple to push off . A bigger rock meant he had to call in buddies and share the loot. Bungee cords took longer to fi gure out, but he eventually learning to pull on the end with the hook. Once he invited a bear in to overwhelm the can and disperse the goodies. He, evidently, was willing to share with those outside his species if it meant he could get what he wanted. Most people don’t know but ravens are great imitators. They can learn human speech better than some parrots. Besides mimicking humans, ravens also can duplicate other noises, like car engines, toilets fl ushing, animal and bird calls. They have been known to imitate foxes and wolves to get them to open carcasses that the raven alone can’t manage. They are willing to wait their time until the other animal is done and then dine on the leftovers. They seem to understand cause and eff ect. A study in Wyoming found that during hunting season, the sound of a gunshot draws ravens to look for a presumed carcass. Yet, these same birds ignore equally loud sounds like a car back-fi ring or an airhorn. They are also very playful. In the frozen north, they have been known to use snowcovered roofs or snowy hills as slides. They often play keep-away with other animals, like dogs or wolves. They like performing aerial acrobatics. One raven was seen fl ying upside down for more than half a mile. They even make toys by using sticks, pinecones, golf balls or rocks to play with each other or by themselves. Sometimes, I think they laugh at other animals by taunting or mocking them. I know for a fact that our mountain raven was doing that. However, there are other places with even bigger problems with ravens. They have caused power outages by messing with insulators on power lines; they have pecked holes in airplanes; they have surprised campers by opening their tents; and they have raided cars with windows left open in parking lots. In terms of evolution, ravens seem to have the upper hand. They can live in a variety of places, including snowy hills, deserts, mountains, forests and towns. Their large size and thick plumage help protect them from extreme weather. They are scavengers with a varied diet, including fi sh, meat, seeds, fruits, ants, carrion and, in

Conifer, garbage. They don’t mind tricking other animals. They work together. While one raven distracts the other animal, another raven will steal the food. They have few predators and live a long time and have long memories. Although a fl ock of ravens is called an unkindness, they appear to be anything but unkind to each other. They show empathy for each other and will be seen consoling or helping each other. They remember ravens they like and will respond to them in a friendly way. They are suspicious around strange ravens and overtly hostile to ones

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they don’t like. Ravens are part of the corvid family and are close cousins to crows. Crows are smaller: 6 inches shorter and with 12 inches smaller wingspans. Crows have short, rounded or square tails compared to the ravens’ longer, wedge-shaped tails. Crows can be identifi ed by their caw-caw call, while ravens have a deeper, hoarser “kraah.” Crows live in groups, while ravens usually limit companionship to two to four other associates. Remember to be kind to your local ravens. They can recognize human faces and they have very long memories.

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – OCTOBER 16 – NOVEMBER 14, 2018 – ngazette.com

WHAT’S HAPPENING Lakewood Strategic Growth Initiative Won’t Be On Nov. 6 Ballot, Or Anytime Soon Remember the Strategic Growth Initiative, the citizen’s petition to limit development that was to go on Lakewood’s ballot last year? Well, a year later, it’s still not on. A year after Lakewood resident Steve Dorman fi led a lawsuit challenging a citizen petition to place a growth restriction initiative on the November 2016 Lakewood municipal ballot, the Jeff erson County District Court has dismissed all almost all of Dorman’s challenges, and could rule on those remaining after the parties fi le motions in late October, according to court documents. “It won’t make the ballot,” confi rmed City of Lakewood spokesperson Stacie Oulton. “The deadline to get items on the ballot passed some time ago.” The court ruled on Aug. 27 that the Lakewood City clerk properly approved the initiative for inclusion on the ballot, but did not rule on whether the proposed initiative was unconstitutional, stating that “The issue is not ripe for determination at this stage of the process.” Dorman’s remaining claims are that the proposed initiative improperly limits city council’s powers, violates state and federal fair housing laws, and is a taking of his property without compensation. However, because Lakewood voters have not approved the initiative, the court asked the parties to

fi le motions arguing why or why not it would be improper – merely an advisory opinion – for the court to issue a ruling at this point in time. The fi nal reply motion is due Oct. 19. If the court does not dismiss Dorman’s remaining claims after reviewing the motions, a trial has been set for Feb. 11. Should the judge rule against Dorman next month – or in February – when if ever will the initiative come before Lakewood’s voters? “Well, there’s a few more steps,” said Oulton. “Obviously, the judge has to rule on the matter. If he rules in our favor, then the plaintiff (Dorman) has the right to appeal that ruling. If he appeals, the city can’t take action while the protest or appeal goes on.” If Dorman chooses not to appeal, city council could then consider the initiative. “When the case is resolved, it would come back to council, and would be put on council’s agenda… it would have the option of adopting it or referring it to the voters.”

Edgewater Taking Applications For Sustainability Committee The Edgewater City Council is taking applications for its Sustainability Committee. The resolution creating the committee prescribes its powers and duties; specifi es its duty to report to the city council or city manager as appropriate, and identifi es the department head who will act as the board or committee’s liaison. The committee has powers and duties that are advisory only, except as otherwise provided

IN MEMORIAM

Local Sculptor Dennis West, 1952-2018 n By

J. Patrick O’Leary

ennis West, founder and owner of 23rd Avenue Sculpture Studio and Gallery, died Oct. 3 at age of 65. A lifelong resident of north Denver, West grew up at 42nd and Clay, in Sunnyside; he attended St. Catherine’s and graduated from Holy Family High School. In 1976, he received a fi ne arts degree from Loretto Heights College. West’s studio is at the corner of West 23rd Avenue and King Street, in a 1950s, fourbay, former Texaco fi lling station, and includes an outdoor garden that surrounds a yearround koi pond stocked also with goldfi sh and turtles. “I’m a big believer in God, in being a Christian and helping people out,” West told Neighborhood Gazette writer Ken Lutes in a March interview. “I have people walk into my studio everyday who need something fi xed – their favorite dandelion digger, or a wheelbarrow, or the chair they broke when they were yelling at the Broncos.” He made the repairs at no charge, “because these people are my neighbors. I only ask them to pay that favor forward to someone else who needs one.” His grandfather was a painter and an illustrator for the Bureau of Reclamation, and his mother a “closet” painter, with many unfi nished paintings discovered after her death. He is survived by daughters Amoreena Rose Corbin, Abigail Arah-Lynn Corbin, and Charleigh Alden Corbin; step daughters Juniper Sea Dickerson and Rhiannon Sage Dickerson; brothers Cary West, Mark West and Greg West; and others. According the the Cremation Society of Colorado, a celebration of life will be held on Oct. 20, noon to 6 p.m., at 4101 N. Harlan St., Wheat Ridge. The family requests that in lieu of fl owers donations be made to Amoreena Corbin to help off set the remaining medical expenses. For more information, visit www.cremationsocietyofco. com/obit/dennis-alden-west/

by law. Committee members are appointed by the mayor. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Oct. 19. Applications may be found on the city’s website, www.edgewaterco.com, or obtained from the City Clerk’s Oﬃce, 2401 Sheridan Blvd., Edgewater.

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 Fair and accurate assessments  Transparency  Commitment to the best technology  Frequent community meetings  An email newsletter  Annual report to the community  Endorsed by Ed Perlmutter

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Looking for good books at bargain prices? Then you’ll want to visit the Jeff erson County Library Foundation’s (JCLF) Fall Whale of a Used Book Sale at the Jeff erson County Fairgrounds, from Friday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Oct. 21. Admission is free. The semi-annual event, which has more than a 20-year history in the community, off ers the public 80,000 books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records and many more items with prices starting at 50 cents. “All of our Whale of a Used Book Sales help us raise tens of thousands of dollars, which in turn helps to benefi t Jeff erson County Public Library,” said Jo Schantz, Continued on page 11

Lesley for Jeffco Commissioner! As your next county commissioner, I’ll work to: • Attract better paying jobs • Tackle housing and transportation needs • Protect our open space • Promote transparency and accountability

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WHAT’S HAPPENING Continued from page 10

executive director of the Jeff erson County Library Foundation. Early Bird shoppers can get in ahead of the crowd on Oct. 19 from 8 to 9 a.m. for a fee of $10 per adult. At 9 a.m., the sale opens to the public, and there is no admission charge for the rest of the three-day sale. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19 and 20. On Sunday, Oct. 21, the sale is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local sponsors include Westerra Credit Union, Bandimere Speedway, Stevinson Toyota West, Pinkard Construction, Bean Fosters and Etkin Johnson Real Estate Partners. The Friends of Jeff erson County Public Library is a county-wide organization dedicated to enhancing the programs and resources of our libraries. For more information about the Foundation and the Fall Whale of a Used Book Sale, to volunteer or become a Friend of the Library, visit jeﬀcolibraryfoundation. org or call 303-403-5075.

Elitch Theatre Presents Children’s Day International Film Festival, Nov. 10 & 11 Historic Elitch Theatre, in conjunction with Blissfest333, Youth International Silent Film Festival, The Bug Theatre, and the New York International Children’s Film Festival, will present the fi nal Children’s Day event of 2018 on Nov. 10 and 11, marking the First Annual Historic Elitch Theatre Children’s Day International Film Festival. Held at the end of Denver Arts Week, the festival will be a weekend event

featuring unique, intelligent fi lms from across the world for young audiences and their families from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each day will bring three blocks of fi lms with brief intermissions. All screenings will take place inside The Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St., Denver. Children’s Day refl ects Mary Elitch’s core mission: to introduce the cultural arts to our youth, open their minds, stimulate their curiosity, and deepen their compassion and understanding. The festival will give them exposure to high-quality fi lms, compelling stories, and diverse perspectives from around the world and their own backyard. This year’s features will transport the audience into animated worlds to real worlds with beauty, thrilling thought-provoking adventures, friendships and fearless triumphs and tragedies. This international fi lm festival will include screenings of “Coco,” Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” as well as internationally acclaimed fi lms for children including “Stone Soup” (France/Belgium), “Riceballs” (Australia), “Water Path for a Fish” (Spain/Columbia/France). Feature fi lms by Colorado fi lmmakers will also be shown including the world premiere of “Steampunk Cowboy,” Elitch Theatre’s fi rst fi lm production created by the students of Elitch Academy in honor of Thomas Edison, who screened the fi rst silent fi lms in 1896. Films shown on Saturday, Nov. 10, are ideal for ages 3 and up with the fi lms featured on Sunday, Nov. 11, best for ages 8 and up. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets range from $10 to $50, and free for 18 and younger. Children must register online for their free tickets. A full schedule and tickets can be found at www.etfest.com/ﬁlmfestival. For free children’s tickets, visit https://ﬁlmfree-

way.com/ChildrensFilmFestival/tickets.

Local Breweries Host BYOB(ook) Book Groups, Nov. 12 & 14 This fall, Jeff erson County Public Library is hosting an alternative take on the traditional book group. BYOB(ook) Group is a monthly, themed book group meeting at Westfax Brewing Company, 6733 W. Colfax Ave., in Lakewood, on the second Wednesday of the month (Nov. 14), from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and a second group at Wheat Ridge’s Colorado Plus Brew Pub, 6995 W. 38th Ave., on Nov. 12. People come prepared to talk about books that fall into the given theme in a casual setting and enjoy happy-hour prices, then leave with book recommendations for the rest of their fall reading. Upcoming dates and themes at WestFax include: Nov. 14, a non-fi ction graphic novel; and Dec. 12, a book with a cover you hate. The Wheat Ridge group’s dates and themes will include: a book with characters from a culture other than your own, Nov. 12; and a book of 21st-century poetry, Dec. 10. Visit jeﬀcolibrary.org for event information.

Jeffco Residents Invited To Apply For Leadership Training Program By Nov. 2 Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI), a 20-week program off ered to Jeff erson County adults and teens at no cost. FLTI participants meet Wednesday evenings January through June in north

Lakewood and develop skills to become eff ective civic leaders for healthy families and communities. All Jeff co residents are encouraged to apply at Jeff coFLTI.com by Nov. 2. FLTI graduates learn how to utilize information and resources, while working together with others of diff erent viewpoints, to improve their communities. Adults and teens meet at the same time and location, but follow diff erent curricula specifi cally designed for each age group. Dinner is served each week and childcare is provided at no cost. Spanish interpretation is off ered during every class. At the beginning of the program, each FLTI participant selects a community project meaningful to them. The inaugural Jeff co class of adults and teens, which graduated in June 2018, chose impactful projects that included the development of a teen-parent resource guide, elementary school family engagement program, new community garden, parent-tot exercise program, anti-bullying programs and more. FLTI is an initiative coordinated by Colorado State University Extension and CSU’s Offi ce of Engagement in partnership with 14 sites that span the four corners of the state. A core tenet of FLTI is that change happens on behalf of children and families when families learn how to cultivate and sustain community partnerships. Therefore, the nonpartisan program emphasizes partnerships among families, businesses, faith leaders, elected offi cials, community organizers, state and local government and philanthropists. The 2019 program will be the second Jeff co class following a successful inaugural program in 2018. For more information, contact site coordinator Kimberly Massey at 303-2716635; or visit (and apply at) JeﬀcoFLTI. com.

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – OCTOBER 16 – NOVEMBER 14, 2018 – ngazette.com