EDGEWATER COUNCIL Edgewater’s North Star Page 4
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Thriving, Healthy and Safe Community for Our Youth Page 5
NEIGHBORHOOD ARTS 40 West Arts Celebrates Día de los Muertos Page 9
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| SLOAN’S LAKE | WEST COLFAX | TWO CREEKS | WEST HIGHLAND October 15 – November 17, 2019 • ngazette.com • FREE
Edgewater City Council Candidates: In Their Words n By
Mike McKibbin
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dgewater voters will elect four city council members and a mayor in the Tuesday, Nov. 5, general election. The mayor is elected to a two-year term and councilmembers are elected to four-year terms. To help Neighborhood Gazette readers be informed voters, all candidates were emailed two questions: 1) In no more than 100 words, describe your background related to Edgewater and this position, and 2) In no more than 200 words, explain how you want Edgewater to address its most important issue. Responses were slightly edited for clarity, newspaper style and available space. If no response was received, information from campaign websites (if found online) was used. Continued on page 12
EXHIBITS INSPIRED BY DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS, INCLUDING ALTARS AND ART by local artists, brighten 40 West Art District’s First Friday, Nov. 1, featuring food, performances and fun family activities. See page 9 for details. PHOTO COURTESY 40 WEST ARTS.
Meet Lakewood’s Candidates For Mayor, Council n By
Mike McKibbin
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bevy of candidates seeks Lakewood voters’ approval to serve on the city council in this year’s Tuesday, Nov. 5, general election. A mayor elected at-large and one council member from each of the city’s five wards will serve four-year terms. Only one seat is uncontested this year. To help Neighborhood Gazette readers be informed voters, all candidates were emailed two questions: 1) In no more than 100 words, describe your background related to Lakewood and this position, and 2) In no more than 200 words, explain how you want Lakewood to address its most important issue. Responses were slightly edited for clarity, newspaper style and available space. If no response was received, information from campaign websites (if found online) was used.
training and personnel they need to keep us safe. Over the past four years, I have led the greatest expansion of land preservation in recent history. Let’s continue to find new parkland and open space opportunities, as this is a critical need and I am committed to finding new opportunities for parkland. We must find and create unique ways to address traffic and infrastructure issues as well as address affordable housing and homelessness. We have seen the nationally recognized 40 West Arts District blossom,
bringing new vibrancy to some of our oldest neighborhoods. Now, new galleries, coffee shops, restaurants and a brewery dot portions of West Colfax that have been long forgotten. A key highlight of the district is the 40 West Artline, a free and interactive art experience connecting three of Lakewood’s historic neighborhood parks. These are both examples of the community dreaming and working together. It is in this spirit we will tackle all the challenges we face – by working together.
Johnson (rameyjohnson.com): I grew up in Lakewood since age 13, graduated from Jefferson High School and have a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Colorado. I have been married 52 years, lived in Lakewood for 27 years and we have three grown children. I served in the state legislature and was the prime sponsor of 10 bills. I have served on council for eight years and was the former mayor pro tem. I also Continued on page 6
PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW
Pauline York a Staple of the Edgewater Community She Loves
Mayoral round two
n By
Adam Paul faces Councilwoman Ramey Johnson for mayor, a repeat of the 2015 election, where Paul beat Johnson by less than one percent. Paul (adampaulforlakewood.com): I’m a lifelong Lakewood resident, I care deeply for this city and its residents. My only interest is I want our city and all who live here to thrive. I have been honored to represent our city in numerous elected capacities for almost 18 years. I served six years on the Green Mountain Water Board, eight years on city council and have been mayor since 2015. I’m a product of Jeffco Schools, a University of Colorado Denver graduate and have operated a successful small business in Lakewood since 2001. Public safety must remain a key priority; we must continue to give our police the tools,
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Sally Griffin
just spent some time with a person who really loves her city, and from what I can tell, her city loves her. This has led the City of Edgewater to name a road after her. She tells you, with a sparkle in her eye, that it is a short road. That may be, but it is a road nonetheless. She knew the city was honoring her, but she didn’t know how much until city officials asked her to step outside. She wasn’t sure why until they asked her to look up, which she did just as someone took the cover off the road sign above her head. There her name was in green and white for all to see. There is good reason to name a road in the center of the City of Edgewater after Pauline York, a woman who has done so much for her city. She has been called “a staple of the Edgewater community since the late 1950s.” Staff and City Council members can’t remember a time that she hasn’t been at a public meeting. At these meetings, she is not afraid to offer her opinions and to approach the Edgewater Council about any issues that impact the community. But Pauline doesn’t just offer her opinions, she backs those up by giving her time and energy to many organizations and events impacting the community. When honoring her, the city listed the many ways that she has served the community. Pauline served on the parks and recreation board from 1968-1975, and she served as Continued on page 8
COMMUNITY ACTIVIST PAULINE YORK was recently honored by the City of Edgewater for her lengthy and continued civic engagement by naming a street after her. PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF EDGEWATER.