Neighborhood Gazette – February 2020 – Edgewater by Neighborhood Gazette

EDGEWATER MAYOR Important: 2020 Census Information Page 4

ASK THE EXPERT A Probate Carol (Or, ‘You’ve Died. Now What?’) Page 9

NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORY History Of Jeﬀco: James Baugh Page 12

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| SLOAN’S LAKE | WEST COLFAX | TWO CREEKS | WEST HIGHLAND February 12 – March 16, 2020 • ngazette.com • FREE

$200K Investment Expands 40 West ArtLine n By

Ken Lutes

he long-term vision of 40 West ArtLine becoming the longest continuous arts experience in the state of Colorado recently received a significant boost toward that goal. According to a January 2020 West Colfax Community Association newsfeed, local developer Riverpoint Partners CEO Reid Davis has committed “$200,000 in new murals at Lamar Station Apartments located along the 40 West ArtLine.” The apartment complex of nine buildings sits on Lamar St. just south of West Colfax and includes 138 newly renovated units. Davis said that this investment in murals will benefit the residents as well as those who enjoy the ArtLine. “We’ve been watching the West Colfax area evolve over the last decade,” said Davis. “Because of the progress and potential here, we’ve made substantial investments in the corridor during the past two years. We want to breathe new life into this rental community and make it a joy to come home to for its residents.” Continued on page 11

ARTIST TIMOTHY FLOOD CREATED THE AFFIRMATION STATION at Lamar Station Plaza. Push the button to hear an aﬃrming statement, such as “All that you seek is already inside you.” PHOTO BY KEN LUTES

How Green Are Edgewater’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions? n By

Mike McKibbin

first-ever greenhouse gas emissions study found the City of Edgewater emits higher amounts of those gases than New York City, mostly due to the age of its houses and fast-casual restaurants. The 2017 inventory found 45,526 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents were emitted in Edgewater. That is enough to make eight, 27-cubic-foot blocks each year, according to the city’s recently adopted sustainability plan. “Per capita, Edgewater generates less than many comparable communities in Colorado, largely due to the lack of industry within the community,” the plan added, “but it exceeds that of New York City residents in greenhouse gas creation.” The three largest contributor categories and focus areas for reduction are transportation and mobile sources and residential energy (31% each) and commercial energy (25%). The inventory was overseen by Melissa Baldridge, an award-winning sustainability professional in Denver. Baldridge is a certified energy manager, a LEED accredited professional and is completing a master’s degree in sustainability at Harvard University. In an interview, Baldridge noted Edgewater’s commercial emissions are almost as large as its residential emissions. “But only about 10% of the buildings in Edgewater are commercial,” she said. “That’s largely because there are a lot of fastcasual restaurants that use a lot of electricity for cooking and refrigeration. And there are big box stores, too. But still, that’s using a whole lot more energy by a magnitude of almost ten times” national averages. Baldridge also noted the city has many aging homes, with a 1960 median year of

construction. “As homes age, they are not as energy efficient as they were unless they are overhauled,” she said. In a January presentation at an Edgewater Sustainability Seminar, Baldridge noted that means energy use by Edgewater homes is 2-3 times worse than those built under new construction codes “on a good day.” Baldridge explained the inventory focused on the community-at-large and city operations. Emissions came from

purchased electricity, stationary combustion equipment, motor vehicles, potable water and wastewater treatment and solid waste. The inventory found city-owned cars and trucks traveled 185,088 miles in 2017 and averaged only 7 miles per gallon. While Baldridge said that the self-reported figure might be somewhat inaccurate, it’s still low compared to other municipalities. “Emissions are tied to miles per gallon and diesel, which most of the trucks run on, is a real carbon-intensive fuel” prone to more emissions, she added.

Among the suggested steps Baldridge’s presentation noted the city could take to reduce its emissions were to work with Xcel's Partners in Energy program to encourage home energy audits, maintain and add sidewalks and bike lanes, advocate for nearby light rail stops, hold Nest thermostat giveaways and help install them, hold tree giveaways and incentivize solar installations through grants and property tax credits. Others were to look at Boulder's Smart Continued on page 2

PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

Sustainability In the Kitchen, Classroom And City Hall: Lilly Steirer n By

J. Patrick O’Leary

ou may have heard that Edgewater resident Lilly Steirer now serves on the city’s new Sustainability Board. The idea of sustainability may be new to many of us, but for Lilly it has always been a part of life. “My life is very saturated in sustainability efforts between my work with teaching cooking, volunteering for the city and family life. “Growing up in eastern Washington, my parents raised us with a strong connection to the land as they were and still are avid composters and mulch gardeners. We also took our recyclable materials to a facility long before they had a curbside service option in my hometown. “When we camped we would go huckleberry picking and my dad in particular was interested in foraging items such as asparagus. We ate straight from the garden in the summer and they stored food for the rest of the year. “We didn’t talk about being environmentalists or discussed concerns about climate LILLY STEIRER SPEAKS AT BEA JOHNchange, they simply demonstrated joy around being in harmony with nature and the Continued on page 2

SON’S ZERO WASTE TALK on Oct. 13, 2019. PHOTO: LEE STIFFLER-MEYER

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – FEBRUARY 12 – MARCH 16, 2020– ngazette.com

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Lilly Steirer Continued from page 1

seasons.” Lilly’s road to Edgewater was a long one. She grew up in eastern Washington, and studied political science at the University of Washington in Seattle. After graduating, she moved to San Luis Obispo, Calif., where she worked as a personal chef and met Xerxes Steirer, her future husband. In 2006, they moved to Golden, where Xerxes earned his Ph.D. at Colorado School of Mines, and she continued her business as a personal chef in the Denver metro area. “As a chef, I was always trying to teach people about the seasons and the importance of sourcing food unprocessed and close by. Eventually, I wanted to share more information about how to cook with seasonal ingredients and I launched the online meal planning service Lilly’s Table in 2010. Through that business, I honed my skills as a recipe developer and learned the importance of communication in the digital age.” They moved to Tucson, Ariz., in 2011, after their first child was born. “We lived close to the downtown area, but our community included urban farmers, neighbors who shared a goat and milking duties, a weekly farmers market year round, rainwater harvesting, and most of our friends brought their own plates to every party to avoid producing trash.” Living a few blocks from the Santa Cruz River, they saw the impact of human development on the fragile, desert riparian environment. “When we lived there, it only flowed a couple days a year during the monsoon season. We would gather with crowds, in the rain or heat, to watch it. “There is a strain of living in a desert when you see how finite our natural resources really can be, but there is also this beautiful magic of witnessing nature’s determination to survive.” Working as the Tucson Food Day Coordinator was Lilly’s first adventure with leading a community to take better care of the planet, animals and people through their thrice-daily food choices. “I worked to bring together farmers, chefs, food/farm focused non-profits, the University of Arizona, local governments, and more to create events ranging from classes and an online scavenger hunt to a city-wide progressive dinner and pop-up picnics.” “We loved living there, but we were eager to get back to Colorado as we truly felt it was home,” she said. They returned to Colorado in 2013, buying their first home in Edgewater, which would allow her husband a close commute to his job at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden. “We fell in love with the city before the sale was final on our house. We even discussed that if the house purchase fell through and we had to find another place, we could only look in Edgewater.” She continued gardening, mulching, storing food, fermenting and raising chickens, and did even more. “I began working with HEALthy Edgewater and helped start the Neighbor to Market program at the Edgewater Market and Music as a way to provide backyard gardeners a place to sell their excess and for our community to have more local food access,” she said. Lilly also helped run the Jefferson High Community Garden along with Joel Newton of the Edgewater Collective. When the animal ordinance was being worked through, she attended city council meetings as her family had been raising chickens ever since living in Tucson. When plans for the new Civic Center came out, the couple and other community members – including Hannah and John Beltrone – raised concerns about the sustainability of the building. “We hoped it could be LEED certified or at least meet the list of LEED standards,” she said. “Although we didn’t go through the official LEED certification process, the Civic Center building is meeting the list of LEED Gold standards.”

Lilly said it was not easy to question the city’s leaders, but they all learned and became more involved with the city: her husband started the Edgewater Library Sustainability Seminar, Hannah Beltrone now leads HARP, and John Beltrone was elected to city council, where he initiated a resolution to create a sustainability committee. Lilly applied to serve on the committee, and mayor Laura Keegan appointed her as chair. “We were tasked to create a Sustainability Plan within six months, which was a fairly aggressive deadline given that surrounding communities have taken up to a couple years and often hired consultants to assist volunteer teams. “Fortunately, we had an incredible team of motivated experts on the committee and a lot of assistance from Dan Maples, who at the time was the Deputy City Manager. Gathering community input was important to the committee and we spent much of our time in that process including an open house and community survey that honed in on Edgewater’s unique needs and desires.” They needed another three months, which the council allowed. Presented on Sept. 3 of last year, the plan mapped out detailed goals and actionable steps for four categories: Energy, Waste & Materials, Land & Water and Social Vibrancy. “Overall, the Committee made the recommendation to create a permanent Sustainability Board that will be able to manage and take action on these goals.” And that’s what council did. Lilly was one of six people appointed to the board, and she was elected Chair at the January meeting. “I am eager to focus on the objectives of the Sustainability Plan with a focus on the lowest hanging fruit and to bring community around the idea of the best practices for a sustainable community.” Edgewater city council will be voting on a pilot curbside composting program on Feb. 18. “At the end of this five-month experiment, we will be working to renew our waste hauler services, including potentially bringing curbside composting in as a permanent option.” With all that volunteer work, she does manage a day job. “I work for one of my favorite non-profit organizations, Slow Food Denver, teaching the series Cooking from the Garden, which is an after school program. I teach it in schools throughout Jeffco including Edgewater Elementary. I also teach cooking classes to children and adults at the Edgewater Civic Center.” You can follow Lilly and Xerxes Steirer’s “talking the walk” of sustainability on their podcast, “Sustainable Colorado,” which launched Jan. 26.

Greenhouse Continued from page 1

Regs program that requires rental property owners to upgrade energy and water efficiencies and incentivize electric vehicle use with priority or no-fee parking, grants, low-interest loans, etc. Individual steps Baldridge said residents could take included using electric cars and electric home heating, eating less red meat, flying less or supporting airlines that offset carbon emissions like Jet Blue and United with bio-based fuels and walking more, especially on less than mile-long errands. The sustainability plan stated the 45,526 figure – of that amount, 110 metric tons were produced by city operations and vehicles – will be used as the baseline and compared to on an annual basis to determine the success of sustainability practices put in place to reduce Edgewater’s emissions. Baldridge noted that while Edgewater’s inventory and sustainability plan development are behind other area governments like Denver, Boulder and Boulder County, “Edgewater is real committed with a core committee and they want to be a leader in this. I applaud them for taking the first step and measuring where their city is at” with its emissions.

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NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – FEBRUARY 12 – MARCH 16, 2020– ngazette.com

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Important: 2020 Census Information Invitation letters or packets will be sent to Colorado housing units beginning in midhe following information is from the March, 2020. • The majority of Colorado housing Colorado State Demography Office for units will receive a letter, either the 2020 Census. The Census in English or in English and Bureau is required by the U.S. Spanish. Constitution to count all people • Some housing units living in the United States as of in areas with limited internet April 1, 2020. connectivity will receive packets In mid-March, homes will containing the invitation letter begin receiving invitations to and a copy of the paper form. complete the 2020 Census. This packet will be in English or Once the invitation arrives, you in English and Spanish. should respond for your home • Some housing units in in one of three ways: online, by rural areas, e.g., where residents phone or by mail. The goal of the receive mail from a post office census is to “count everyone, Laura Keegan box, will have a Census invitation once, in the right place” every 10 years. The census is authorized by the U.S. packet delivered by a Census enumerator. The Census Bureau will contact you Constitution. Completing your census form helps bring in funding to Colorado for vital up to five times before sending a Census services, provide valuable aggregate data enumerator to your home. All invitation letters and packets will for state and local decisions, and ensure contain fair representation in the U.S. House of • A Census-generated housing unit ID Representatives. The 2020 Census will shape the next 10 years, don’t leave your number, • The URL for the online Census form, future blank! and Responding to the Census • The toll-free phone number to the There are multiple ways to respond to Census Service Center. You can call this the Census: • Online, using a computer or a smart number to compete the Census over the telephone or to request a paper form. phone, People can respond to the Census in any • Over the phone by calling a toll-free way they wish, regardless of the invitation number, they received. • By using a paper form, or You should submit your Census • By responding to a Census enumerator. The online and telephone versions of form as soon as you can after receiving the Census Form will be available in 13 your invitation letter or packet. The data collection period ends in June 2020, but the languages. The Census Bureau will send invitations Non-Response Follow Up period begins in to complete the Census to all housing units. the end of April 2020. Edgewater mayor Laura Keegan can A housing unit is a house, an apartment, a group of rooms, or a single room occupied be reached at lkeegan@edgewaterco. or intended for occupancy as separate living com. quarters. n By

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Council liaison, I attend P&Z meetings. Mayor Pro Tem Steve Conklin represents Edgewater on the Denver Regional Council dgewater’s success is rooted in of Governments. DRCOG is providing a community feedback, realized by you grant for a Sheridan Corridor Master Plan and your neighbors volunteering for boards between 17th and 26th avenues. Besides and seated on council. We are a small town Edgewater, stakeholders include Colorado with accessible government and leadership, Department of Transportation, Regional which includes you. Never underestimate Transportation District, and the value you bring by sharing Denver. Contact Steve at your thoughts with our boards Sconklin@edgewaterco.com and council, or volunteering for Mayor Keegan and a board yourself. council met with the Jeffco Here is a smattering of what Public Schools Board of some of your neighbors have Education and principals from been up to: Lumberg, Edgewater, Molholm The Planning & Zoning elementary schools, and Commission is resuming our Jefferson Junior/Senior High 2020 Comprehensive Plan School discussing issues related this spring, and will review the to the populations we both code for compatibility with the future plan. Mayor Laura Janet Spangenberg serve. The new Edgewater Keegan and I attended a city Sustainability Board recommended council planning refresher workshop sponsored by initiate a pilot program for curbside pickup the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. of kitchen waste for compost. This was Zoning laws can inhibit or promote various a top priority shared by the community kinds of activity. Understanding cause participating in the Sustainability Plan and effect of how our codes can impact a community is key to making regulations Continued on page 9 without unintended consequences. As their

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Rare Earth Extraction Pilot Program To Open In Wheat Ridge

A RARE EARTH MINERALS PILOT PLANT IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN in the first quarter of the year in Wheat Ridge. The plant, at 1475 W. I-70 Frontage Road North in this Google Earth photo, will be overseen by Resource Development Inc. and part of a Texas project to establish the first such processing site outside China. PHOTO COURTESY GOOGLE EARTH n By

Mike McKibbin

“pretty benign process” will be used in a Wheat Ridge pilot plant to extract and purify rare earth minerals crucial to things like cell phones, wind power generation and magnets. If the process is proven, it could help break China’s domination in rare earth minerals, a relatively abundant group of 17 elements. The plant will be operated by Resource Development Inc. (RDi), part of a USA Rare Earth and Texas Mineral Resources Corp. project in that state. Dan Gorski, director of operations for USA Rare Earth, said in an interview the company has worked with RDi on other

projects since 2011. Locating the pilot plant at RDi’s 11475 W. I-70 Frontage Road North site in Wheat Ridge was also attractive due to the nearby Colorado School of Mines and its engineering expertise. The plant will be the first such processing facility outside China and is expected to be operational in the first quarter of this year. “We’re installing equipment and doing the final design of the process,” Gorski said. “We want to make it a showplace operation.” The plant will use continuous ion exchange/continuous ion chromatography to process leach solutions from ore from the Round Top mining project, located outside El Paso, Texas, into 26 different recoverable elements, including technology metals and industrial minerals.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website defines rare earth minerals as those with high electrical conductivity that are often used in defense and modern consumer electronics such as cell phones, windmills that produce electricity, and magnets, among others. These minerals are processed primarily from ores that contain uranium and thorium, two naturally occurring and man-made radioactive elements. Gorski stated there are “very rigorous regulations we have to follow when we handle these minerals.” “There are no hazardous materials produced, it’s a pretty benign process,” he noted of the plant’s process. “The strength of the sulfuric acid we produce is about a quarter of what you find in a car battery.” Gorski said the plant will receive small amounts — “grams instead of tons” — of solution at a time so there will not be heavy truck traffic in and out of the facility. Ion exchange was developed by the U.S. government’s Manhattan Project to make atom bombs in the 1940s. The process has a small footprint, the company said in a news release, significantly reducing the amounts of reagents (defined as a substance used in a chemical reaction to detect, measure, examine or produce other substances) normally used in rare earth minerals processing. The resins and extraction reagents used are “off-the-shelf” items and readily available from multiple suppliers, the release added. The process used at the Wheat Ridge plant was previously used by the Texas Minerals Resource Corp. in the separation and purification of rare earth minerals for the U.S. Department of Defense. Gorski estimated the Wheat Ridge plant — which he said will employ six people — will operate for two years or longer, then be relocated to the Texas mine site and scaled up to industrial size. Wheat Ridge Economic Development

Manager Steve Art said the project does not involve any city or tax funds and the plant will operate in its existing building. Pini Althaus, CEO of USA Rare Earth, noted in the company release the Wheat Ridge plant is the second piece of the company’s plans for a 100% U.S.-based rare earth minerals supply chain. “Taken together, Round Top and our pilot plant constitute essential links in restoring a domestic U.S. rare earth (minerals) supply chain, extracting rare earths and processing them into individual (rare earth element) oxides, without the material ever leaving the United States, thereby alleviating the current dependence on China for both raw materials and mineral processing,” he said. At full production, Round Top is projected to annually produce around 600 metric tons of six rare earth minerals.

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0 West Arts will throw its second annual New Orleans Street Party on First Friday, March 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. This colorful event marks the first Colfax Art Crawl of 2020 hosted by the district and will feature Otone Brass Band, a multi-person live jazz ensemble. Otone Brass Band has been bringing the New Orleans brass sound to the Rockies for almost 20 years. Their unique blend of original music, high energy, and second line grooves is sure to delight district patrons. You may have seen them at the Vail Jazz Fest, Film on the Rocks, the 5 Points Jazz fest, the Estes Park Jazz Fest, the Peoples Fair or the Longmont Jazz Fest. Otone Brass will be marching throughout the district during the event, stopping in front of and inside galleries to play. Alongside Otone Brass, 40 West Arts will also host two creole food trucks, Mile High Cajun and Crescent City Connection and have tons of NOLA-related fun including face painters, tarot-card readings, necklacemaking stations, kids and family crafts and of course, Marti Gras beads. And, every gallery and creative business including 40 West Studios will be open to the public with tons of art. “Our Colfax Art Crawl events are held four times a year (First Fridays in March, June, August and November) and are a chance to do something bigger and more expansive than a standard First Friday,” said 40 West Arts Executive Director Liz Black. “We love highlighting unique and original art forms, showing off something the public might not normally see. “A massive brass band with members marching throughout the district definitely fits this description, it’s distinctive and bold. “Also, New Orleans is such a hot spot of art, music and creativity that 40 West Arts is excited to recreate that experience here.” Patrons are encouraged to wear their own necklaces, masks, feathers and more to add to the vibe. And just like any First Friday, 40 West Arts’ many creative businesses, galleries, studio spaces and showrooms will be open to the public with exhibitions on display and artwork for sale.

Learn more about the event at www.face-

book.com/events/421122025269895/, or email info@40westarts.org, call 303-2753430 or visit 40westarts.org.

Catana Chetwynd: Arvada Center Literary Series In our culture, passion is often mistaken for love. Celebrated graphic artist and author Catana Chetwynd explores the emotion from the less-sexy-but-surelymore-beautiful angle of friendship in “Snug,” “a collection of comics about dating your best friend.” Chetwynd, a 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee in their Best Graphic Novels & Comics category, will discuss her work in general and newest collection, which includes 50 percent new, never-beforeshared comics. “Snug” is a celebration of the quirks and peculiarities of every one of us — and the magic that happens when we find our matching puzzle piece. Chetwynd speaks at The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., in Arvada on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. This event is offered in partnership with Tattered Cover Book Store. Visit arvadacenter.org/catana-chetwynd-arvada-center-literary-series to learn more.

RMCAD’s 57th Annual Student Exhibition For 57 years, the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) has invited the public to celebrate the work of its students at its Annual Student Exhibition. Traditionally RMCAD’s largest exhibition of the year, the show consists of work representing a wide diversity of media, content and scale, and these days that includes traditional mediums plus fashion design, animation, game art, graphic design and much more. This exhibition is a juried competition; student work is judged in categories against other work of the same level. The jury consists of working professionals not immediately affiliated with RMCAD, and these jurors select the gold, silver and bronze award student winners in each department. Recognitions will also come with cash prizes. The opening reception is at RMCAD’s Philip J. Steele Gallery, Thursday, March 5, from 4 to 8 p.m., with the awards ceremony the same day at 5:30 p.m. The exhibition runs March 5 through 26. For questions, contact pjsgallery@ rmcad.edu. Learn more about the exhibition and RMCAD at rmcad.edu/ exhibition/57th-annual-student-exhibition/.

ngazette.com – FEBRUARY 12 – MARCH 16, 2020 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT Alamo Drafthouse Movie Party: Little Shop Of Horrors n By

Gazette Staff

ebruary is the month of love, and what better way to celebrate the emotion than by reveling in the nontraditional three-way musical romance between Rick Moranis’ Seymour, Ellen Green’s Audrey and Audrey’s “replacement,” flesh-eating plant Audrey II? “Little Shop of Horrors” follows meek Seymour, a flower shop assistant who discovers Audrey II during a total eclipse. Audrey II brings in business but there’s a high price to pay (human flesh is hard to come by!), and Seymour has to decide how and when to draw the line. Alamo Drafthouse movie parties feature fun props like smell-along cards, bubbles and, in this case, your very own Audrey II fan to take home. There will even be teeth candy on hand in honor of the most sadistic creatures of all: dentists. Movie parties are interactive: cheer for your heroes, boo the bad guys, shout out your favorite lines and even sing-along with the songs — all in a theater packed with fellow fans. Alamo Drafthouse Sloan’s Lake — 4255 W. Colfax Ave. — screens this cult classic Monday, Feb. 24, at 7:30 p.m., as part of its “Bad Romance” series. Visit drafthouse.com/denver/theater/ sloans-lake for more information and to purchase tickets.

Have a news tip or story idea? Send it to editor@ngazette.com

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Perhaps late winter is the best vantage from which to dream of midsummer…? If you’re like us, you’re ready for those long days, the backcountry and good hiking and camping weather. The “backcountry,” after a fashion, is the setting of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” a magical mash of fairies and flights of fancy set in an evening-time woodsy dreamscape. The plot? Well, let’s just say this is a tale of courtly love mismatched then made right at the hands of a very mischievous, quick-witted sprite named Puck, one of Shakespeare’s most famous characters. One of the legendary playwright's most beloved works, this play will truly suit all ages. The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities — 6901 Wadsworth Blvd. — offers performances of this classic play Feb. 21 through May 16, Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 1 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Preview performances are Feb. 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m. Talk Backs — discussions offered after performances about the production with members of the cast — will be held after every performance except opening night and closing matinee. If you want something more fun and frothy, how about a happy hour with the cast? Stay after the Friday, April 17 performance and enjoy a drink with Puck and company! Complimentary light snacks will be provided. Visit arvadacenter.org/a-midsummernights-dream for more information.

RICK MORANIS’ SEYMOUR GETS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL with Audrey II, “stand in” for his love interest Audrey, played by Ellen Green, in the cult classic “Little Shop of Horrors,” screened at Alamo Drafthouse Sloan’s Lake, Feb. 24, as part of its “Bad Romance” series. COURTESY PHOTO

Hear Rising Musical Talent At Jefferson Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Concert Celebrate spring and a rising generation’s musical talent at the annual Jefferson City Orchestra (JSO) Young Artists Concert. Each year, JSO invites to its stage sensational, rising talent for a debut with their ensemble. Results of JSO’s annual youth competition in January each

year determine the repertoire. The 2020 Young Artists Competition winner, Daniel Gostein, adds his prize-winning concerto performance to the March program. Gostein and the JSO orchestra perform Sunday, March 15, at 3 p.m., at the Colorado School of Mines’ Green Center, 924 Sixteenth St., in Golden. Tickets range $25 for adults down to $5 for children with senior citizen and student discounts available. More information and a link to purchase tickets can be found at jeffsymphony.org/young-artists-concert.

40 West Arts - Where Art Means Business! 40 West Arts is a state-certiﬁed creative district, a destination to explore and discover its unique culture (both old and new). But, it’s also a place where the business of creativity happens! From the more than 120 creative enterprises located in or near the district to the creative pulse emanating from the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design in the heart of the district, 40 West Arts is a creative destination where painters, sculptors, glassblowers, woodworkers, metalworkers, musicians, actors, motion artists, and makers of all kinds gather to connect, collaborate, and celebrate creativity!

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NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – FEBRUARY 12 – MARCH 16, 2020– ngazette.com

MEDICALLY SPEAKING

What’s Happening in the WRBA

Keep Your Kids Out Of The ER This Winter you can offer kids a sip of water or electrolyte fluids every few minutes if they can keep it down. Acetaminophen or uring cold months, flu and other ibuprofen as directed can help fever and respiratory viruses run rampant, and aches. If this Doesn’t work, it’s time to call this year is no different. In fact, it may be the pediatrician. somewhat worse, as the Centers for Disease One symptom of RSV is a high fever, Control has reported more than 13 million so controlling that may help. cases of influenza, resulting Use a cool washcloth, fan, in more than 6,000 deaths popsicles or a cool bath along so far this season. Cases of with acetaminophen. Over-thebronchiolitis, a common lung counter cough and cold remedies infection, are double this year generally don’t help and may not over last. be good for babies. If your child These types of viruses can is having trouble breathing, call be especially hard on children. 911 right away. Since Lutheran opened its Snowy weather brings new pediatric nursing unit kids out for fun activities in early January, we have like sledding, skiing and cared for dozens of children snowboarding. Remember the Marcia Teague with moderate respiratory basic safety rules to prevent illnesses and transferred a few concussions, sprains and fractures. Make more serious cases to Children’s Hospital sure an adult is available to supervise, have Colorado for needed care. them wear a helmet, stay hydrated and How is a parent to know when to treat dress appropriately for the weather. Don’t their child at home, when to call the doctor forget sunscreen since even on a cloudy day, and when to head to the Emergency Room? the sun’s rays can be harmful. The main health reasons children end Having a sick child can be stressful, if up in an ER during the winter months are not scary. While many illnesses can be cared due to flu, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, for at home, get professional medical advice or RSV, bronchiolitis and accidents from or help if you think your child needs it. winter activities and sports. Marcia Teague is the manager of Lu With little ones especially, one of theran Medical Center’s recently opened the most dangerous result of respiratory unit called The Children’s Place. The new illnesses is dehydration. Kids can lose fluid pediatric unit cares for newborns and chilquickly, and sometimes need intravenous dren up to age 18 requiring low to moderfluids, especially if they are experiencing ate inpatient or observation care. vomiting or diarrhea. To avoid dehydration, n By

Marcia Teague, MS, RNC

D Wheat Ridge Business Association recognized for 15 year anniversary membership at West Metro Chamber. Thanks for the great partnership over the years!

Such a lovely ﬁrst Biz Mix of 2020 at Tulaire on 44th last night, thank you to our Host and all who attended. $$ is up to $200 at our Feb. Biz Mix!

MARCH 2020 MEMBERSHIP BREAKFAST DATE: Tuesday, March 10, 2020 TIME: 7:00am-9:00am LOCATION: Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling St., Wheat Ridge, CO COST: $15 for WRBA Members and their guests, $18 for Non-members TOPIC: Update Your Sales Language to Improve Your Sales Results SPEAKER: Liz Wendling, Sales and Please RSVP & pay for this event by 5pm on Thursday, February 6. Business Development Consultant wheatridgebiz.com/upcoming_events/ Meeting Sponsor: TBA Member Business Spotlight: TBA

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

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FITNESS CORNER Strength Training As A Major Key To Weight Loss works harder after a strength workout to replenish itself, and boosts your metabolism come across many individuals looking for up to 36 hours after you have left the gym. direction in weight loss. Most hope I hold Besides the benefits of burning more some deep secret that they have yet come calories, strength training can increase bone across on the Internet, which will allow density, build a stronger heart, improve them to burn fat and look lean with minimal blood flow and help control blood sugar effort. There is not a secret pill, levels. but I do believe there is a key Why do people often factor many people who are skip lifting weights when trying starting out their fitness journey to lose weight and get healthy? overlook. Most often I find they do not This one key factor that is know where to start and they most overlooked in weight loss have read a lot of misleading and maintaining a healthy body information about lifting weights is strength training. Usually such as; women will get bulky, when someone wants to lose squats will hurt your knees, if weight they focus on spending you stop strength training your hours on aerobic activity such muscle will turn into fat, it takes as jogging, elliptical machines, too much time, and the list goes Amanda Vollrath or stationary biking, followed on and on. by a low-calorie diet. At the beginning this Aim to incorporate strength training approach will lower the number on the scale, three times a week as a full body routine and but later they find themselves on a plateau, focus on compound movements, which are and not as trim as they like to be; especially exercises that target more than one muscle in areas such their arms, midsections, thighs group. Feed Your Soul Fitness focuses on and buttocks. providing full body workouts in 30-minute Why is strength training the key, and sessions. Our beginner to intermediate why is it generally overlooked? approach ensures that people who are new Unlike cardio, strength training helps to exercise will be safe and successful. Visit build lean muscle tissue, which increases www.feedyoursoulfitness.com for more our base metabolic rate. Your body uses information. Challenging and changing more calories to maintain muscle than fat. your routine could change a lot more than Strength training also has a greater level just the scale. of excess post-exercise consumption than Amanda Vollrath is a trainer at Feed aerobic exercise. Simply put, your body Your Soul Fitness.

n By

Amanda Vollrath

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ngazette.com – FEBRUARY 12 – MARCH 16, 2020 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

ASK THE EXPERT A Probate Carol (Or, ‘You’ve Died. Now What?’) “I’m not licensed to practice in this world. Besides, read the disclaimer.” omething disturbing happened the other I told the spirit that I told my son to night. A frightening spirit appeared in use an Affidavit for Collection of Personal my bedchamber and questioned my end-of- Property to collect and disburse my property life planning. without opening probate. “I am the Ghost of Probate “Affidavit? Who told you Future,” announced the spirit. “I about the Affidavit?” was sent to show you what could My attorney, I replied. happen if you don’t update your She’s licensed to practice in this will before you die.” world. The spirit first took me “You can’t transfer real to my old condo, where my estate with that. It even says granddaughter was living. She so in the court’s self-help was tearfully arguing with my instructions for the Affidavit,” oldest son, her uncle. I asked the shot back the spirit. spirit what was happening. You said you weren’t an “You wrote in your will that Joseph O’Leary attorney, I reminded the spirit. your three children were to each “Well it’s true!” fumed receive an equal share of your estate upon the spirit. “And I’ll bet your attorney advised your death. And that condo is part of your you to consider retitling all your real estate estate.” with a beneficiary deed if you wanted to I told the spirit I told my granddaughter avoid probate, didn’t she?” she could live there until she got back on her I fumed. But I couldn’t quite remember feet. why I had not followed through. “Well, you might want to amend your “It’s probably because your attorney will to allow that, and let your kids know. declined to draft a Florida beneficiary deed Otherwise there’s going to be a scene like this for your swampy lot in the Everglades, when you’re gone, and your granddaughter because she was not licensed to practice law will be out on the street.” in Florida,” spoke the spirit. How do I amend a will, I asked the spirit. So? My son, the personal representative, “I’m a literary device, not an attorney. can just sell that piece of swampland Read the disclaimer at the end of this story.” and distribute the money per my will, I The spirit next took me to my oldest responded. son’s home office, where he was cursing a “No, he’ll need to open ancillary probate blue streak as he read through a sheaf of in Florida to dispose of it,” clucked the spirit. papers. “You could have created a type of trust and What, I asked, is he so angry about? transferred all your real property into it to “You appointed him personal avoid probate, but you didn’t.” representative in your will, and he’s just I asked the spirit what else I should have figured out it’s going to be very complicated done. and expensive to sort things out.” “Sorry, we’re out of time. As for the Like how, I asked. disclaimer, you should not rely on figments “Well for starters, you neglected to of your imagination, much less a newspaper change the beneficiaries on your life column, for legal advice. Talk to an attorney insurance and retirement accounts after you about your specific situation.” divorced your wife,” said the spirit. Disclaimer: This is intended as a But I did take her out of my will, I general discussion of a few legal issues in objected, and left everything to the kids. estate planning, and should not be relied “If a payable-on-death clause directs the upon as legal advice. The entire dream is funds go to someone other than your estate, fictional, too. it’s not part of your estate. So that money Joseph O’Leary is an attorney serving will go to your ex, not your kids.” clients in the Denver metro area. Contact That sounds like legal advice, I told the him at 720-256-1442. spirit.

n By

Joseph O’Leary

Edgewater Council Continued from page 4

Study. City Council approved a six-month trial period. It needs 50 participating households to proceed, and will have a basic cost of $20-$23 per month. John Beltrone is this board's Council liaison; contact him at Jbeltrone@edgewaterco.com. Edgewater Redevelopment Authority approved $600,000 of improvements for the 25th Avenue business corridor based on the Traffic Calming and Mobility Plan concepts, to be finalized by council. These may include making 25th Avenue one-way westward a block or two from Sheridan, replacing those four-way stops with minitraffic circles, wider sidewalks, back-in parking, landscaping, and outdoor areas

TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

for shops/patrons. City Manager Dan Maples is the ERA staff contact: Dmaples@ edgewaterco.com. The History, Arts, Recreation & Parks Advisory Board is planning a new history book, discussing interior design for the Civic Center, and lining up their offering of community events. The update to our Parks and Recreation Master Plan continues with online and mailed surveys. Caleb Rountree is HARP's Council liaison; contact him at Crountree@edgewaterco.com. Contact Lkeegan@edgewaterco.com regarding volunteering on Board seats, and those listed above for Board activity details, or me for any reason via phone or email (below). Contact Edgewater City Councilwoman Janet Spangenberg at 303-954-8649 or jspangenberg@edgewaterco.com.

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Have a talk with your teen about dating. Dating is a normal part of the teen experience. Since teens are new to romantic relationships, it can be hard for them to understand the difference between a healthy or unhealthy relationship. Talk to your teen about how they expect to be treated by, as well as how they will treat, partners. Ask them about their friends’ relationships.

Jeffco BRC is a 501c3 organization dedicated to providing quality services and support to small businesses within Jefferson County. We welcome the opportunity to partner with you to ﬁnd solutions for any challenges, opportunities, resources, or answer questions you have about doing business in Jeffco.

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Small business is our business… connecting you with tools for success. Popular Topics include Concept, Research and Feasibility Financial Check-Up Business Plan Writing Growth & Expansion Registration & Business Structure Marketing & Strategic Planning Funding & Funding Sources Hiring & Firing If you have questions – we have answers! Call to set up your FREE Business Advising Appointment Today!

Visit our website to learn more: jeffcobrc.org • 303-996-8976 Jefferson County Communities That Care

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – FEBRUARY 12 – MARCH 16, 2020– ngazette.com

WHAT’S HAPPENING Caucusing With the GOP? Your Local Precinct Caucus Is March 7

TEENS FROM WHEAT RIDGE AND OTHER JEFFERSON COUNTY HIGH schools visited Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 5, to speak to Congressman Ed Perlmutter about the problems they face and the supports they need. The 14 youth research interns are with Jefferson County Communities That Care (CTC), an evidence-based community change process facilitated by Jefferson County Public Health. PHOTO COURTESY JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMUNITIES THAT CARE

Jeffco Teens Travel To Nation’s Capitol To Discuss Substance Misuse, Interpersonal Violence and Hopelessness and Anxiety High school students from Jefferson County visited Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 5, to speak to their Congressman, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.), about the problems they face and the supports they need. The youth are students at Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, Dakota Ridge and Jefferson Jr./ Sr. High Schools. Representatives from Jeffco Public Schools helped coordinate and chaperone the trip. The 14 youth research interns are with Jefferson County Communities That Care (CTC), an evidence-based community change process facilitated by Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) focused on preventing substance misuse, sexual/ relationship violence, and hopelessness and anxiety among young people. Earlier that week, the youth attended the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) National Leadership Forum’s Youth Leadership Initiative. The conference culminated with Capitol Hill Day, an opportunity for youth to visit with legislators to discuss key issues like those they have focused on during their internship. These were the first cohort of young people from Jefferson County to attend a CADCA Capitol Hill Day and to bring important topics like substance misuse, sexual/relationship violence, and hopelessness and anxiety to their legislators as a collective. In addition, these young people are the only group of youth attending from Colorado this year, joining hundreds of high schoolers from across the country. While in D.C., the youth also met with staff members from Senators Michael Bennet’s and Cory Gardner’s offices to discuss their work and their perspectives. Upon returning home to Jefferson County,

the young people will continue to lend their expertise to the Jefferson County CTC work, including by holding a youth town hall and a public forum at which they will present the findings of their research from the semester. The students have written blogs to share their experience and learnings from each day. Read about the youth’s takeaways from the CADCA Youth Leadership Initiative at https://www.jeffco.us/3909/ Blog.

There’s Still Time To Nominate Your ‘Green Hero’ For A Lakewood Sustainability Award The City of Lakewood is calling for nominations of those who enrich and make our community more sustainable for a Lakewood Sustainability Award. Stories of saving energy, increasing recycling, cutting greenhouse gases, growing local food, cleaning up the environment and other sustainable approaches are examples of projects eligible for the 2020 awards. Nominations for Lakewood’s “green heroes” are open through March 16 on the city’s website. The awards are open to residents, youth, local businesses, student groups, city employees and community organizations that deserve to join Lakewood’s sustainability hall of fame. The awards are given in the categories of Community Sustainability, Defender of the Planet for youth leadership and Bruce Peoples’ EcoEmployee for City of Lakewood employees. Projects must have been completed in 2019 or 2020. Past awards have recognized zero-waste events, innovative and energy-efficient building developments, environmental and ecological restoration, energy conservation, recycling efforts, and neighborhood garden programs. Learn about the past winners on the sustainability website and see who inspires you. Visit at Lakewood.org/SustainabilityAwards for details and to nominate.

A local Republican Precinct Caucus will be held Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m. – a new date and time. “It is your opportunity to be involved in grassroots government,” said Liz Veeder, elaborating on the event.. “Our freedoms will never be taken from us; we will give them up through apathy. Find your location and join us. It will be fun.” The caucus location can be found online at caucuscologop.com.

Lakewood Arts Gallery Offers Opening Reception, Exhibitions, Classes And Art Supply Sale March events at the Lakewood Arts Gallery, 6731 W. Colfax Ave., include a fun First Friday Art Walk highlighting the Expression in Abstract exhibit. The opening reception on Friday, March 6, from 5 to 9 p.m., will feature a leather-tooling demo by Robert Srader, entertainers “Just Us,” Sandra and Howard Van Dam, and community artwork from the Manning School and The Arc of Jefferson, Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties. Kids Create class for the month will be soap carving. The always popular new and gently used Art Supply Sale continues through Feb. 28. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Go to lakewoodarts.org or call 303980-0625 for more information.

Tax Prep Volunteers Needed Tax Help Colorado is seeking volunteers for the 2020 tax season. Each year, Tax Help Colorado operates more than 30 free tax sites, known as Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites, throughout the state and provides free tax preparation assistance to families who earn less than $56,000 a year. For additional information, visit GaryCommunity.org/volunteer or contact Sasha Prell at sprell@garycommunity.org.

Want To Transform Lives? Become A Volunteer Driver For Seniors’ Resource Center Seniors’ Resource Center invites you to make a difference in your community by providing rides for older adults. It’s a great

volunteer opportunity for retirees, stayat-home parents and those with flexible schedules. SRC provides rides to medical appointments, the grocery store and other critical needs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Even an hour or two of your time will make a huge difference to an older adult. The gesture speaks volumes and new friendships will be made. If you would like to volunteer or know someone who would, please email Pat Pierson at PPierson@SRCaging.org or call 303-332-3840.

Neighborhood Acting School and Community Theater Stages Spring Entertainment, Summer Classes And Camps Colorado Actor’s Company and Theater School (aka Colorado ACTS) is offering a slew of child, teen, and community theater productions this spring, featuring performers ages four through adult. “We are a non-profit theater school and community theater located in Wheat Ridge and have been in this location for almost six years,” according to Colorado ACTS’ Cindy Oury. “We feel we have so much to offer in terms of great stage experience for actors and actresses ages four through adult. We are also an inexpensive, fun place to go to take in a play performed by children, teens and/or adults.” Located at 11455 W. I-70 Frontage Road between Kipling and Ward (a third of a mile west of Medved Autoplex and directly behind Keller Williams), Colorado ACTS’ plays range from one to two performance weekends on Friday and Saturdays, and the school is now taking registrations for summer classes and camps. Spring play admission prices range from $5 to $8, except children five and under who are always free of charge, with tickets sold at the door. A dinner theater ticket is $15 for dinner and show – please reserve by calling 303-456-6772. Upcoming spring performances include: • “Rapunzel’s Tangled Tale” by a home school class ages 7-12, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m., and Feb. 22 at 2 and 7 p.m. • “Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles” by community theatre actors, Feb. 28 and 29, and March 6 and 7, at 7 p.m. Matinee and dinner theater March 7, 2 p.m. • “A Fairy Tale or Two” by special needs adult students, March 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. • “Illinois Jane and the Pyramid of Peril” by community theatre actors, March 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 7 p.m. Matinee March 28 at 2 p.m. Visit www.coloradoacts.org for more information or call 303-456-6772.

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ngazette.com – FEBRUARY 12 – MARCH 16, 2020 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

Artline Expansion Continued from page 1

Bill Marino, executive director of the Lakewood West Colfax Business Improvement District, said, “We’re delighted to see this major investment in a large mural project along the ArtLine – and that Riverpoint Partners recognizes the value of this public process and has willingly agreed to go this route, even though the murals are 100% privately funded and completely on private property. We need even more visionary redevelopment of this nature in our community.” The Lamar Station Apartments project combines with the ArtLine to help bring more economic development into the area. “The ArtLine has played a pivotal role in helping to transform the physical landscape of this part of the West Colfax corridor, said Liz Black, the executive director of the 40 West Arts District. “As we know, this corridor had fallen into a long period of outward decline and decay. A lot of the businesses had shuttered; new businesses weren’t moving in.” The 40 West ArtLine is a four-mile walkable, bikeable, free outdoor art gallery and arts experience. It was started through a $100,000 grant with the National Endowment for the Arts, which is the highest award that they give, Black said. “It was a plan envisioned through a number of people, including local city council representatives, the mayor of Lakewood at the time, local business owners, entrepreneurs, artists and neighborhood associations.” The ArtLine boasts more than 70 art installations. Nearly two dozen artists, galleries and art co-ops were hired to create and install the ArtLine art. Black sees the 40 West ArtLine as the intersection of two things that Coloradoans love, which are the outdoors and creativity in the arts. “It’s totally free of charge and open to the public; it’s really kid- and familyfriendly. “Many of the installations along the 40 West ArtLine are games that kiddoes can play as they’re walking along the route. There are also murals and art installations. There is a piece at Lamar Station Plaza that was created by Timothy Flood – it’s called Affirmation Station. You press a button and it emits a message that says, ‘You’re gonna have a great day,’ or something like that. So it’s a great opportunity to really connect people of all generations to arts and the

outdoors. “When you walk around, you see this bright, vibrant green line (painted on sidewalks and pathways); you can’t go 1,000 feet without seeing an art installation, or a ground mural or a wall mural. That’s where we see the intersection of art and economic development. We know that when people come to an arts event, they also spend money in the surrounding area.” The one theme that folks might look for is the stegosaurus, which is the Colorado state dinosaur. The three large park art installations that the ArtLine connects, installed at Aviation Park, Walker Branch Park and Mountair Park, are all around that concept. Almost all the installations took place over the spring and summer of 2018, but the planning process began years prior to that. “2019 was the year in which we did a lot of maintenance, like repainting the green line, refreshing and repainting some of the murals, and that (effort) will certainly always be a strong component of our work along the 40 West ArtLine,” said Black. According to the website of the 40 West Vision 2040 Action Plan, “the overarching goal is to shape West Colfax into a place where locals and visitors come to create fresh opportunities, connect with diverse experiences, and celebrate culture both old and new.” Regarding the Lamar Station Apartment murals project, Alexis Moore, the City of Lakewood’s principal planner, said that historically in Lakewood, it has not been common for developers to self-fund these types of artistic projects. “That said, we’re very fortunate along the 40 West ArtLine and in the 40 West Arts District that because of the hard work of numerous community partners and the city in building relationships with the private sector, many private property owners and developers understand and are excited about the vision for the area and have worked with the partners to place murals and other public art on their property, especially along the ArtLine. These property owners and developers understand that supporting local artists is great for the local economy and community in general.” Riverpoint Partners selected muralist Katy Casper Gevargis, a Colorado artist well known in the metro area and with plenty of experience in the district, to create the murals at Lamar Station Apartments. Work is expected to begin in May. Get a map of the ArtLine route and learn about the 40 West ArtLine installations and the artists who created them: 40westartline. org.

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History Of Jeffco: James Baugh n By

Sally Griffith

he most recent history of Jefferson County was hugely influenced by the discovery of gold. Although, the Arvada area was the first place where gold was discovered. It was gold discovered by the Ralston party on its way to the California gold rush. What they found wasn’t enough to convince them to stay and try to find more. So, there wasn’t really much gold discovered in this area. However, the creek did become known as Ralston Creek. The Colorado “Pikes Peak or Bust” gold rush was indeed a rush of, mostly, young men who left hometowns that were still suffering from the 1857 downturn in the economy. The thought of striking it rich was too much to resist. So, when the word got out that gold had been found where Cherry Creek meets the Platte River, many rushed to see if they too could go pull gold out of the streams in the foothills of the Rockies. Many of these gold rushers had no experience with mining and most arrived thinking that they didn’t need any experience, just hard work. It is important to understand that the early gold finds in Colorado were mostly what is known as placer mining. Many of the streams coming down from the mountain, like Clear (originally Vasquez) Creek, Ralston Creek and Bear Creek, had some gold that had found its way into the stream bed and could be discovered by a process called panning for gold. It wasn’t really mining but involved standing in the cold stream for hours on end while you swished around mud and rocks from the stream bottom in your pan until the heavier gold sank to the bottom. Then you could retrieve it, put it in a pouch, and then use pinches of this gold to pay for things you might need. What most of the inexperienced miners

didn’t know was this technique was limited and the gold found usually was smaller amounts that certainly didn’t qualify as “striking it rich.” Experienced miners from California and Georgia knew that gold found in the streams could lead the panner farther into the mountains where there were lodes of gold, usually enclosed in quartz, that required much more intensive mining than simple panning for gold. Let me tell you the story of one of these young men who headed west to make his fortune. James Baugh came from a family that had settled in Missouri but had been around since before the American Revolution. He came west in one of the early wagon train that arrived in Denver on June 1, 1859. However, his mining days seemed to have been short lived. He soon became aware of the high prices being charged for food in the mining camps and the supply towns. He also saw that most miners didn’t want to get too far from their claims and wanted their supplies brought to them. On his way up Clear Creek, he passed wheat fields and open fields that lay alongside of the creeks and rivers. He stored that in his memory. Baugh soon abandoned mining, but he didn’t become one of the Go Backers, those disillusioned souls who announced that they were “Busted” on the sides of the wagons that had once read “Pikes Peak or Bust.” At one time, on the routes leading to Denver there were as many Go Backers heading east as there were gold seekers heading west. No, rather than head back with his head hung low, James Baugh quickly looked for other ways to get rich. He found a partner and started a business of storage and delivery of goods on commission. He then began making regular trips up Clear Creek Canyon to supply mining camps

being established higher up the mountains. Soon other enterprising souls set about constructing toll roads that they maintained and charged tolls for goods traveling to the mining camps and gold being transported to Denver to be assayed. Once, because of the toll roads, it became much more expensive to transport goods, it wasn’t long before he couldn’t resist the call of farming. Because of the high price that fresh fruits and vegetables could bring in the mining camps, he rightly thought that supplying that need could bring more wealth than panning in a stream and driving pack mules up Clear Creek Canyon. He remembered the open fields he had spotted on his way up the Canyon. By August of 1959, he established his own farm, midway between Denver and Golden on Clear Creek. There were some wet years around this time, which misled many prospective farmers to believe they could farm in ways that they familiar with in more eastern locations. The wet years quickly ended causing many farmers to abandon their farms and join the Go Backers. Not Baugh. He found a place that had easy access to water even though it was elevated above the creek. He immediately started digging an irrigation canal, also called a ditch, that he would use to water his land. He was also only two miles from a new bridge that was being built to cross the creek to provide easier access to the mining camps. He would eventually irrigate his farm with four ditches. James Baugh clearly understood that his new venture required new ways of doing things. His first ditch, called the Lees and Baugh Ditch, established some of the oldest water rights in the South Platte River water basin. (By the way this ditch and these water rights are now used by the City of Wheat Ridge to water Prospect Park.) Baugh didn’t receive official title to

JAMES BAUGH CAME WEST IN A WAGON TRAIN IN 1859 SEEKING GOLD. His mining days were shortlived, but he made a better living by farming along Clear Creek in presentday Wheat Ridge, where his home and relics stand today. PHOTO BY SALLY GRIFFITH

his land until 1863. This was probably normal for the time. The Homestead Act was not established until 1862. So, most of the farms like Baugh’s along Clear Creek, used “military patents” that Congress used to reward members of the military. This process involved finding unclaimed land and registering your claim with a local land office. When Baugh established his farm, there was no functioning land office and, thus, there was no survey made. This situation would later cause James Baugh some consternation. But more about that and the role that Baugh played in the development and settling of the area known as Wheat Ridge in the next article for the Neighborhood Gazette.