Neighborhood Gazette – June 2017 by Neighborhood Gazette

NEIGHBORHOOD FEATURE Coyotes: Street-Wise Wildlife In Your City Page 5

UNDER THE DOME Taking Real Action to Address Our Aﬀordable Housing Crisis Page 7

WEST COLFAX UPDATE Colorado Pro’s Kitchen Serves the Neighborhood Page 13

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| SLOAN’S LAKE | WEST COLFAX | TWO CREEKS June 19 – July 17, 2017 • ngazette.com • FREE

Lakehouse Residential Tower Breaks Ground South of Sloans Lake n By

J. Patrick O’Leary

mid a fanfare of fireworks, a marching band and speeches by city councilman Albus Brooks and developers, ceremonial shovelfuls of dirt were tossed for Lakehouse, a 12-story, 206-unit condominium and rowhome development that will overlook Sloans Lake. It’s in the LEED-certified ‘Sloans’ district, on the former St. Anthony Hospital site. The Lakehouse project represents a change in emphasis from “green” to “wellness” in residential projects – although it will be LEED certified when complete, it will also be the first in Denver to meet the WELL Building Standard. In another change, the developer will not just fund, but volunteer and help build, affordable housing required by the city, through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver. The May 24 groundbreaking, pushed back from early Continued on page 4

ELEPHANT SCULPTURE BY 40 WEST ARTIST GREG WASIL. Pictured left to right in front of 40W Gallery: 40 West Arts' Executive Director Liz Black, The Edge Theater’s Manager of Customer Experience Samara Bridwell, and 40 West Arts’ Art Director Miranda Samon. PHOTO: DAVE REIN

Summer Camps to Blacksmithing: New Happenings in the 40 West Art District n By

Nancy Hahn

n the 40 West Art District there is always something exciting, emotional, thoughtprovoking, or just fun to experience. Now that summer is here, strolling the 40 West Art District is always a pleasant experience. There are murals to see on many buildings and food and drinks to try, while you check out the happenings at the galleries and shops. The C-Squared Studios, 1522 Teller St., has an amazing range of metal sculptures, furniture, and pieces combining wood and metal. Their work is unique, surprising, and custom made-to-order. Chad Copeland of C-Squared explained that they don’t have special events of shows, because what they create every day is “the best damn thing.” Looking at the work on display, it was hard to argue. While Copeland offers classes at the studio regularly, there are unique Father’s Day blacksmithing classes coming up. In the classes each participant will create a medium-sized steel knife. You can gift Dad with a class or buy a class for yourself, too, and come with him. Space is limited, but at time of writing space was open on Sunday, June 18; on Thursday, June 22; and on Tuesday, June 27. If this sounds like a perfect Father’s Day activity, visit Father’s Day Blacksmithing with Chad Copeland on Dabble.co. The Miracle Street Gallery, 7001 W. Colfax, will be holding art camps this summer. The gallery is known for focusing on and promoting the art by low-income artists or marginalized populations. The gallery is currently featuring art by women from The Gathering Place, a drop-in center for women and children in Denver. They have, also, shown the work of men from the Kendal Street rehabilitation center. The gallery adds extra hours on

Wednesdays and Thursday evenings to offer help with job searches and resumes. This summer, though, the gallery will be holding Butterfly Stitchers Summer Art Camps. From June 19 to July 28, elementary students will explore and have fun with different art mediums weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Older children, 13 and up, will experiment with all types of visual art from 1 to 4 p.m. There are six weeks of camp, but campers can register for any number of weekly sessions. . Miracle Street Gallery believes in the positive effect of art.

This Summer Camp sound positively fun! Visit https://www.evensi.us/butterflystitchers-summer-art-camp-miraclestreet-gallery for more information and to sign up. Right now the 40 West Gallery, 1560 Teller St., is showing the Inner Child exhibit, which opened on June 2. The work of many artists explore their thoughts and imaginings about quiet, bold, shy, studious, sweet, or naughty inner children. The Inner Child closes on June 24. On July 5 the Contemporary Still Life

exhibit opens with a First Friday Opening Reception with complimentary wine on July 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. The still life exhibit explores the importance of objects in our individual lives; but, also, objects important to our society and to our nation. What objects are you picturing as you read this? Explore how those objects tell our stories. The 40 West Gallery is open from noon to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. On the evening of June 20, Container Continued on page 12

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

Placemaking With Art Along The W Line n By

ORIGINALLY LOCATED AT 16TH AND CALIFORNIA STATION, 500-square-foot granite mosaic walkway was moved to the Lakewood•Wadsworth Station in February 2013. The title of the piece, “Ha-no-oo”, is the Arapahoe word for “galaxy.” Just as the stars are used for navigation, artist Scott Parsons relates the rail station as “a metaphor for navigation.” The mosaic itself represents the 10,000-year history of native migrations as displayed in the night skies above Colorado, recorded in 21 indigenous languages. PHOTO COURTESY OF RTD

Elisabeth Monaghan

Placemaking. The word has grown in popularity – especially in the Denver metro area and surrounding cities, where people from all over the country are relocating. For established residents of smaller communities, the introduction of newcomers to the area can be challenging. The “transplants” may have discovered the appeal of these charming neighborhoods, but they don’t know much about the history that helped establish these communities. “Placemaking” may seem to some like an overused buzzword, but when placemaking efforts are successful, people feel a greater sense of cultural connection and unity; regardless of how long they have lived in the neighborhood. In The Scenic Route, which is Transportation for America’s introductory guide to creative placemaking in transportation, offers an explanation of placemaking that more accurately describes placemaking efforts underway in the Lakewood and Edgewater areas: “In the transportation context, creative placemaking is an Continued on page 2

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – JUNE 19-JULY 17, 2017 – ngazette.com

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ith the recent opening of the Alamo Drafthouse in the Sloan’s Lake area, residents of Edgewater and surrounding communities have another great entertainment option. Like other movie theaters, Alamo Drafthouse offers popcorn, candy and soda, but instead of purchasing these in the lobby, Alamo Drafthouse moviegoers order from the comfort of their seats. There is also a selection of madeto-order entrees, sandwiches, salads and snacks – all prepared by the theater’s executive chef. The theater also serves a variety of “custom” cocktails and craft beers, many of them from local microbreweries. With its stringent no-talking, cell phone policy, Alamo Drafthouse also offers a nice sanity break from cell phones or from those addicted to their phones. Anyone caught texting, answering their phones or chatting with others in the theater will be shown the door. They also will not receive any refunds on their tickets. Another feature of Alamo Drafthouse Denver is Barfly, a sit-down bar that is themed around Beat poets and the Denver art scene. Moviegoers can arrive early for a film and enjoy a cold one while listening to live musicians or partaking in a trivia game. Two of Alamo Drafthouse’s most popular offerings are its specialty and signature screenings, specifically created for each theater. For example, Alamo Drafthouse in Littleton partners with InTea, a teahouse on Main Street in Littleton, for its Afternoon Tea series. Attendees are served tea and treats while they screen period films like “Anna Karenina,” “Little Women” and “Bright Star.” Alamo Drafthouse Denver hosted a “Tampopo Beer Dinner,” where attendees dined on Japanese dishes like Edemame, Pork Shoyu Ramen, and Shrimp Ramen, along with paired beers from Great Divide Brewing Company. There are also the “quote-along” events, where the audience is not only allowed to talk, but also encouraged to quote the lines from the classic films they are screening. During the summer, Alamo Drafthouse

W Line Art Continued from page 1

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approach that deeply engages the arts, culture, and creativity, especially from underrepresented communities, in planning 9195 West 44th Ave • 303-423-0162, ext. 100 and designing projects so that the resulting www.e-gia.com communities refln ect t h g i r e h t t c e l e S r o s i v d A n a oL .rS – nebetter erG .M iveand K celebrate Representing Our Clients’ Best Interests Since 1984. local culture, heritage and values.” r u o y – r e d n e L GIA is an Official Registered Company of CBS4 and HaystackHelp.com gninnur sraey 6 enizagaM 0825 ni lanoisseforP ratS eriF dedrawA In the 40 West Arts District and *robhgien Lakewood/Edgewater areas, creative placemaking has been going on for several Select the years, but in 2015, the 40 West Arts District – formally introduced a comprehensive ecivreright S taerLender G placemaking initiative. Bringing together your neighbor! community members, the West Colfax ✔ Great Service Business Improvement District, and property ✔ Integrity owners, the initiative addresses the best way ytir✔ geGreat tnI Rates Select the right Sr. Loan Advisor Sr. Loan Advisor to showcase their community. Lender – your Long before there may have been a Whether upgrading, downsizing, relocating, or just want to have some extra 80 Magazine 6 yearsyou’re running ,gnizisnwoplacemaking d ,gnidargpu er’uoyeff rehtehW spending cash from a refinance. The quick and easy place to check out your options, conscious ort, RTD created neighbor* give me a call, stop on by and see for yourself! I’m your neighborhood lending expert. artxe emos evah ot tnaw tsuj ro ,gnitacoler setaR taerG its Art in Transit program. Throughout dna emoC .ecnanifer a morf hsac gnidneps RTD’s light rail stations, Art in Transit Come and knock on my door... or give me a call 303-865-3952 anytime. -303 llac a em evig ro ...rood ym no kconk features murals,.emsculptures, and other ityna 2593-568 Awarded Five Star Professional in 5280 Magazine 6 years running traditional and non-traditional works by Great Service nwo yrev ruoy morF artists from around the world. According CHECK ME OUT! loansbykevin.com !ROBHGIEN to Nate Currey, senior manager, public relations for RTD, Art in Transit was the brainchild of Brenda Tierney, a former RTD Integrity employee, who worked there for just over two decades. Currey explains that by using her foresight and resourcefulness, Tierney zing, single-handedly found a way to budget for ome extra art at each of the stations. Great Rates we Come and pots ,llac a em evig ,snoitpo ruoy t“We uo kcehhave c ot ecano lp ysamandate, e dna kciuq eh T have no board guidelines as far as art goes call 303. t r e p x e g n i d n e l d o o h r o b h g i e n r u o y m ’ I ! f l e s r u o y r o f e e s d n a y b n o at any of YTREBIL NACIREMA our stations, and we don’t have any official EGAGTROM funding sources, so what she did was identify 2own 593.568.303 your very • Northwest Wheat Ridge • Lakewood From Denver funds available at the end of each project,” moc.nivekybsnaol said Currey. NEIGHBOR! 303 999-5789 According to Currey, Tierney and her 542 SLMN aside for public staff fought hard to set147money Guy@NostalgicHomes.com art. When there was contingency money at YourRealEstateGuy.Net the end of a project, Tierney would lobby to Group Insurance Analysts, Inc. (GIA) is an independent agency located in Wheat Ridge.

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PHOTO COURTESY ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE

offers its “Kids Camp” screenings, where children are treated to such films as “Matilda” or “Sing.” Alamo Drafthouse Denver donates 100 percent of the ticket sales these screenings to local organizations, including Girls Inc. of Metro Denver. One of the greatest differentiators for Alamo Drafthouse is its commitment to the individual communities in which the theaters are located. As Steve Bessette, creative director for Alamo Drafthouse Denver and Littleton, explains, they are not some new company staking a claim in the neighborhood. In fact, before the theater opened, its managers made a point of introducing themselves to the community. “We knew it was important to talk everyone – from community leaders, to teachers, to members of city council – to make sure that everyone understood who we are and to find out what they wanted from us,” Bessette explained. “We’re very intent on being a neighborhood theater and community space.” According to Bessette, Alamo Drafthouse is not just about showing “Guardian of the Galaxy.” Those films keep the lights on, but Continued on page 14

use it to fund art at that specific station. The response from the public was so overwhelmingly positive RTD embraced the idea of creating the Art in Transit program. Today, the funding piece remains specific to each station and depends upon how much money is available at the end of that project, but it is a given there will be art of some kind at the station. While RTD covers the majority of funding for Art in Transit, other community partners will sometimes assist. For example, along the W Line, the City of Lakewood provided $175,000 for art funding, on top of the $375,000 RTD earmarked for the pieces. While the Art in Transit pieces at each light rail station are visually compelling, it is their backstories that make them especially compelling. As part of the process (and an important component of placemaking), RTD assembles members of the community to participate in judging and selecting which artwork will be placed at their neighborhood stations. Consequently, artists make a point of learning about the communities where their art will be displayed. Of 916 entries submitted by artists interested in having their work placed in one of the 11 stations along the W Line, 10 artists were selected by the judging committees. Today, along with the mosaics, paintings and sculptures, there are 22 murals and 30 colorfully wrapped utility boxes along the route. Additionally, many of the shelters, benches and windscreens at the stations are also works of art. The Art in Transit program delivers art that is whimsical, educational or simply visually appealing, but every piece tells a story about that station’s neighborhood. If the artistic telling of these stories makes the locals feel proud of their community or gives them an appreciation for all that happened to make their neighborhood what it is today, the placemaking, however defined, is making an impact.

ngazette.com – JUNE 19-JULY 17, 2017 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

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NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – JUNE 19-JULY 17, 2017 – ngazette.com

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April for myriad reasons, comes more than three years after NAVA Real Estate Development contracted to buy the property from master developer EFG South Sloans Lake I, LLC. Coincidentally, the event marks (within 13 days) the end of a lawsuit by neighbors attempting to undo Denver City Council’s February 2015 rezoning decision, which allowed the tower to be built. The build site, at 4202 W. 17th Ave., is across the street from Sloans Lake Park. The lakeshore location and views are a selling point, as well as the amenity neighbors fought for by suing Denver City Council to overturn the rezoning in 2015; EFG Sloans Lake, not originally named as a defendant, entered the fray to protect its interests. A Denver District Court ruled against the neighbors last spring; the neighbors appealed, and the Colorado Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s decision on May 11. The outcome of that appeal, according to NAVA’s Brian Levitt, was not the cause of the delay in groundbreaking, originally scheduled for the first week of April. “We had a lot of ducks to line up,” which included permits, drawings and contracts with subcontractors and suppliers, he explained. The invitations were sent May 5, six days before the Court of Appeals issued its decision, and stated the development team, local dignitaries, buyers, friends and colleagues would be in attendance. The onsite sales trailer was packed with revelers as caterers and event staff set up food and beverage tables, red carpet, chairs and a battery of fireworks. It was not chips-andcanned-soda affair. The Brothers of Brass, led by Gregg Ziemba on snare drum, marched up the red carpet to open the ceremony. Trevor Hines of NAVA told the story of how his grandfather visited Aspen in the late 19th century, thanked Habitat for Humanity for partnering to provide affordable housing, and acknowledged everyone who made the project possible, and gushed about the development’s juice bar, sauna, waterfall, views and other amenities. Denver City Council President and District 9 Representative Albus Brooks spoke next, of the claim that 20 percent of the units would be affordable, and that four family homes would have yards. Levitt of NAVA spoke last, of the three-year journey from contract to groundbreaking and how Lakehouse was working to be the first WELL-certified residential project in Denver. “LEED is for buildings, but WELL is for people,” he said. It’s a performancebased system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. The ceremony concluded as a long row of

dignitaries, wielding gilded shovels, churned up the soil as a fusillade of fireworks burst overhead, engulfing the crowd in smoke. Lakehouse’s amenities, per a NAVA press release, will include: a 7,000-squarefoot wellness center; open sky pool, hot tub and mist lounge overlooking the lake; treetop sundeck; patio with fire pits and grills; organic urban farm and produce program; juice bar; gym, sauna and yoga studio; living “Green Wall”; community kitchen; library, business center and media den; and indoor/outdoor lounge and fireplaces. The residences are being listed exclusively by Dee Chirafisi, Kevin Garrett and Matt McNeill Kentwood City Properties. Condominiums range in size from 675 to 2,285 square feet, with one-, two- and threebedroom options, and the rowhomes are two bedrooms, ranging in size from 1,300 to 2,473 square feet. “We have 25 units reserved and/or under contract out of our 199 units total,” said Raechel Terry, Sales Center Manager and agent with Kentwood City Properties. “We combined some floorplans from our original 206 total.” Terry said prices had gone up slightly from the originally released pricing. In April the Neighborhood Gazette reported that pre-construction pricing had increased to $499,000, up from $455,000 for the onebed, one-bath condos. No, that’s not affordable housing. “Our whole building is all one or two bedrooms,” and more bedrooms are better for families, said Levitt. So, rather than write a check to the city’s general fund, NAVA agreed to build affordable housing, but not at Lakehouse. “As part of Denver’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, NAVA created an Affordable Housing Plan for their Lakehouse project,” said Mike Criner, Chief Operating Officer of Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver. “It called for a number of affordable rental units to be built at the St. Anthony’s redevelopment site and for affordable homeownership units to be built offsite.” “Trevor Hines and Brian Levitt, from NAVA, reached out to Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver in July of 2015 to see if a partnership could be formed to build these units. Habitat was able to acquire a tract of land very close to the Evans Avenue Light Rail station where nine affordable homes will be built. NAVA is sponsoring four, fourbedroom units at this site. ”Not only will they be providing financial support for the construction of these units, they will also be volunteering,” said Criner. Habitat will begin site work this fall and plans to sell the homes to low-income families in the late summer or early fall of 2018. As for Lakehouse, construction will take 25 months, with residents likely moving in summer of 2019. For information, visit lakehouse17.com.

ngazette.com – JUNE 19-JULY 17, 2017 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

Coyotes: Street-Wise Wildlife In Your City n By

Sally Griffin

couple months ago, we were about half a mile from our house on our way to dinner when a strange dog ran in front of us. After we slammed on the brakes and barely missed him, Old Man Coyote turned and grinned at us. He then loped along, perfectly content to follow our car down the road. We were used to coyotes when we lived in the mountains, but this was the first we have seen since we moved back to the suburbs of Denver. Since then, we have seen a coyote running past our house on the street and, later, down by the creek that is near our house. We live in an area with lots of forest critters so it seems inevitable that coyotes and other wild animals would visit our area. This got me thinking and I thought it would be interesting to write a series of articles about these wild animals and how they visit our lives in our suburban area. Coyotes were an interesting topic for the first article, because they have shown a great penchant for living in the city. According to the book, “Coyote America,” by Dan Flores, coyotes are very adaptable and have taken quite well to city life. In fact, the largest single band of coyotes have lived comfortably in downtown Los Angeles for some years. A couple years ago, a pair of coyotes snuck into Soldier Field in Chicago and proceeded to have litter of pups. Maintenance staff have seen them and their offspring, but have been unable, so far, to catch them. Which means coyotes may be there to stay. “In twenty-first-century America, close encounters with coyotes have now become the country’s most common large-wildlife experience,” according to Flores. “Their colonization of our cities, from the smallest burgs to biggest, loudest, most frenetic of metropolises, has become the wildlife story of our time.” I guess it is no surprise that coyotes are

hanging out in our area. However, coyotes can be useful. Their favorite meals are small rodents like mice. They will even eat big rodents like rats and, if they can catch them, prairie dogs. In this sense, they do us a service by keeping down the rodent population. In fact, they have replaced wild dogs that used to hunt rodents in our cities. And, except for a rare pack in San Diego, coyotes don’t usually have or transmit rabies like feral dogs can. Although they have a reputation as surviving on small pets, science indicates that pets provide only about 1 to 2 percent of the average coyote diet. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t kill cats if they think they are predators operating in their area. In other words, they don’t want cats eating their mice. According to Stewart Breck, a biologist with the National Wildlife Research Center, coyotes didn’t really have much presence in Denver until the 1980s. But, as of 2014, there were 112 coyote packs in the Denver metro area with a summer population of 1,004 animals. A survey showed that 90 percent of Denver residents had seen a coyote in their area. While shyer coyotes may survive in rural settings, it is the bolder, more novelty-seeking wild coyotes that find the large number of humans and sensory overload exciting. They are the first to try new things and take risks and they are probably transferring those urban cultural norms to their offspring. In other words, Denver has smart coyotes. Coyotes do have a sense of play. I remember going to a meeting in Boulder a couple years ago and parking in a residential area just a few blocks from downtown. It had snowed the night before and a resident was out cleaning the snow off his car. As I walked past, a yellow streak came around the corner and jumped on top of the car and slid through the snow and down the windshield. The coyote landed on all four feet and tore off down the street and around the corner. I asked, “Is he helping you?”

The man responded, “ Yea, for the second time!” Just then, we saw the yellow streak coming back around the corner and heading straight for the car. Make that three times! It is hard to believe that we share our area with a small, wolf-like predator. But, as I learned from living in the mountains, coyotes are not that hard to live with, provided you keep them wild and at least a little nervous around you. According to Flores, the prime directive about coyotes is straight-forward: Do not feed them! To avoid the most common human conflict with coyotes, don’t let your cats or small dogs outside at night. Don’t leave infants or small children unwatched outside. Whatever you do, don’t let a streetwise coyote bluff you. Everyone in north Jeffco can help both people and coyotes by taking action to reinstill in them a healthy and natural fear of people. If your dog or your jogging or biking excites an unusual or bold reaction from a coyote, establish your dominance. If a coyote doesn’t retreat from you or acts in any way

aggressive, stand tall, raise your hands over your head to underscore the fact that you are a lot bigger than he is, and shout to show you are also aggressive. If you have a good throwing arm, pick up a couple of rocks and throw your best fastball. Give the coyote every indication that you are fully prepared to be dangerous. In other words, keep townwise coyotes thinking that people can still be dangerous, or, at least, too weird to trust. If You Encounter a Coyote: • Remain calm. Don’t turn your back or run from one. • Be really, really loud. Yell and clap your hands. • Wave your arms to look bigger. (Probably, not at the same time you are clapping them.) • Keep your pet on a six-foot leash when walking. • Pick up children and small pets, so there is no temptation for the coyote to go after them. • If the coyote keeps approaching, throw rocks and sticks.

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – JUNE 19-JULY 17, 2017 – ngazette.com

Buying. Selling. Investing.

EDGEWATER COLLECTIVE

AJ Steinke, REALTOR®

Thanks for Making Edgewater Community Festival a Success

303.901.0454 AjSteinke2@gmail.com www.All4Sloans.com

n By

Joel Newton

Local Knowledge. Total Commitment

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) originated in China and has evolved over thousands of years. We use TCM and a combination of the following practices to treat and cure disease: acupuncture, nutritional support, acupressure massage, moxibustion, herbal medicine and emotional therapy. For more ifnormation, please give us a call or visit our website. JENNIE LOCKHART

e are still overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude for everyone that made the first Edgewater Community Festival a success in May! It truly was a collective effort to make this community event successful. Our mission is to cultivate partnerships to foster thriving Edgewater families, schools and community. The Edgewater Community Festival was a great expression of that mission. Every element of the festival from the Edgewater 5K to the Edgewater Talent Show and Loveall Open Beer Competition

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August 11 • 4-10pm August 12 • 12 noon-10pm August 13 • 12 noon- 4pm

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The Art show is a membership show that highlights the talents of local artists. It is a juried show, judged by a professional artist and open to the public for free.

was successful and so many people made each of these events a huge win. Special thank you to Dan Maples, Patrick Martinez, Anthony Murray and Edgewater Police Department for providing a safe racecourse through Edgewater for the 5K. Thank you also to Chris Mendez and the Edgewater Fermentation Society for a wildly successful beer competition. Thank you to Joyride Brewing Company and Happy Leaf Kombucha for bringing your delicious brews to the festival. Contact Edgewater Collective Executive Director Joel Newton at joel@edgewatercollective.org or 303-658-0779.

Edgewater Options for Bike to Work Day n By

to grab a bite to eat on the way to work:

Joel Newton

oin thousands of other Coloradans and bike to work on Wednesday, June 28! The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) organizes Bike to Work Day in Colorado to encourage residents to leave the car behind, bike to work and get some great exercise along the way. In Edgewater, two breakfast stations will be open from 6:30 to 9 a.m. for bikers

Business on the Edge Station

Organized by various businesses along 25th Avenue, located in the parking lot on the corner of West 25th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard.

Northern Lights Station

Northern Lights Cannabis Company, 2045 Sheridan Blvd., Unit B (in the front parking lot and sidewalk).

EDGEWATER SCHOOLS Jefferson Graduates 92 Students, 80% Get Scholarships n By

Joel Newton

n May 17, 92 Jefferson Junior/Senior High students walked off the Ellie Caulkins Opera House stage as high school graduates! This means that Jefferson Junior/Senior High School will maintain their big increases in their graduation rate. The hard work of students, families, teachers and staff is paying off. Of these 92 graduates, 80 percent of them received a college scholarship. Thanks to the Beyond Jeffco Scholarship through Jeffco Schools Foundation and the Gina Hartley Scholarship, these students will have some of the financial resources needed

to succeed in college. Now the collaborative work continues to provide targeted resources to guide these students to college. Forty students are taking part in the College Jumpstart Week in June, focused on training students in the skills and self-awareness necessary to succeed in college. Two months of mentoring will follow this week. Students who persevere and attend the first three weeks of college will receive a laptop and printer. The goal of College Jumpstart is to double the amount of Jefferson graduates who go on to college. Contact Edgewater Collective Executive Director Joel Newton at joel@edgewatercollective.org or 303-658-0779.

E D G E WAT E R T H R O W B AC K

The Storied Past of Rose Acres n By

EDGEWATER AT 25TH & SHERIDAN

Joel Newton

Tucked away on the northwest side of Edgewater is a small subdivision called Rose Acres that has an interesting past. The only remnants of a storied past are the mention of the subdivision on real estate listings and a large estate connected to a church. Louis F. Liebhart, a vegetable and fruit broker, owned a 37-acre plot of land in Edgewater from 26th Avenue to 20th Avenue west of Lamar Street. He filled the property with gardens of roses and other exotic plants. In the early 1920s and 1930s it was the most popular sightseeing destination in Jefferson County. Liebhardt also purchased the Cherrelyn Horse Car and displayed it on the property. Harry Lumberg, who Lumberg Elementary is named after, worked at the rose gardens and owned a farm house at 2440 Lamar St. When Liebhart passed away, the property was sold on Oct. 21, 1951, for over $100,000 to Denver meat packers Sam and Morris Sigman. The Sigmans subdivided the land for over 200 homes as part of the Rose Acres Subdivision, which is bordered by 24th Avenue, 26th Avenue, Pierce Street and Marshall Street. Truett Memorial Church purchased the land that included the mansion and built their church. The church and mansion are still standing today and are owned by Vietnamese Central Baptist Church at 6400 W. 26th Ave.

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ngazette.com – JUNE 19-JULY 17, 2017 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

EDGEWATER BUSINESS

Flip off MetroPCS

Spotlight: Wine Beer Fat n By

Joel Newton

dgewater welcomes its newest restaurant to 5350 W. 25th Ave., Wine Beer Fat. Here is our interview with chef and coowner Dan Moir.

How did you get involved in this business?

I have always had a love of foods and drinks along with my adventurous wife’s (Bilikisu) push, I quit my job in 2009 and went to culinary school. Due to unplanned life events, Bilikisu being laid off from her corporate job, I went back to my previous job. When our daughter, Kimberly, was ready to head to college, Bili’s entrepreneur skill set kicked in and pushed our family to pursue our own restaurant to excite my passion of foods and drinks and Bili’s passion for people. The active process to open took approximately 16 months with seven years of planning and evaluating.

What drew you to move to Edgewater?

While looking throughout the Denver metro area for a rental space, we had a vision of a place that would be integrated into a lively and vibrant neighborhood. We wanted to be a walkable, family-friendly place and give a neighborhood another option for great foods and drinks. Edgewater has a great mix of those that have lived in the neighborhood and has given it its rich history and those that recognize the amazing place and have added their uniqueness to better the city. We completely appreciate Edgewater for being part of Denver and still retaining a small-town feel.

ONE OF THE COLORFUL, HEALTHY AND DELICIOUS lunch options at Edgewater’s new restaurant, Wine Beer Fat, at 5350 W. 25th Ave. PHOTO: JOEL NEWTON Our menu is inspired by our travels to Spain, France and Italy. In addition to food, we sell Old World wines by the glass and bottle. Our carefully selected wines will push our customers past what they typically see on other menus and educates them on lesser-known regions and varietals at very reasonable prices. Our beer selection highlights the best from Belgium, Scotland, and the U.S.

WBF is a specialty deli which sells elevated sandwiches and salads during lunch and transition into small plates and tapas for the evening. We also sell cured meats and cheeses by the pound as well as specialty goods and nonalcoholic drinks. We have the provisions to aid in making a fantastic meal with friends and families at home.

LINES

What makes your business unique?

We are a no-tipping restaurant; we feel that our prices are fair and built in a way even with employees, they will be given a fair wage. This also allows our customers to enjoy our food and service without an obligation to tip and allows us and our employees to provide quality service to all customers without calculating what tips are needed to provide for themselves and/or their family. We see our business as a hybrid of a typical deli, wine bar, beer bar, and educational space. Our passion and enthusiasm for what we do and the people we serve really puts us on a different plane. While we have a small space, we have optimized it to give our customers as many options as possible while still enjoying their time in it. What we are really excited about is the ability to continually evolve the menu and options for customers to keep them engaged and interested in coming back often.

What menu items/products do you offer?

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UNDER THE DOME Taking Real Action to Address Our Affordable Housing Crisis First, we achieved a major bipartisan breakthrough on construction defects reform. After months at the negotiating ike all homeowners across Colorado, table, a consensus bill to settle a major I received a notice of valuation from aspect of the issue passed both chambers our county assessor earlier this year. I unanimously. For years, developers have heard from many Jeffco residents that they claimed that our laws encouraged were shocked to see the huge “frivolous lawsuits” and thus increases in property value, discouraged the construction but honestly, I wasn’t all that of affordable condos, a critical surprised. After all, we’ve been missing piece in our market-rate hearing about skyrocketing affordable housing picture. The housing costs for a few years bill requires “informed consent” now. and a vote of all homeowners Colorado’s economy is in an HOA before a lawsuit is among the strongest in the filed, addressing the builders’ country with unemployment stated concerns while protecting now at a record low of 2.3 homeowners’ rights regarding percent. We also have some of their most important asset – their the country’s lowest income Chris Kennedy home. Now that this bill is law, it’s taxes and residential property time for builders to step up to the plate and taxes, which attracts new residents but has build affordable condos. made it impossible for growth to pay its Second, we increased investment in own way. Furthermore, we can all attest to the construction of affordable housing. If the Colorado quality of life, so it’s really no we want apartments to be rented at more surprise to see how many people are moving attainable prices, we need to spend public here – and that’s the main thing driving dollars to make it possible for builders to increasing housing costs. construct affordable rental properties. I What are your state legislators doing was pleased that we were able to allocate about it, you might ask? We worked on money from the marijuana tax cash fund for several ideas to address the affordable housing crisis and provide relief for both Continued on page 12 homeowners and renters.

n By

Chris Kennedy

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NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – JUNE 19-JULY 17, 2017 – ngazette.com

WEST METRO FIRE West Metro Recruits Become Firefighters

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he building is dark with smoke; the temperature is 250 degrees at the floor. But, high above, where flames roll across the ceiling, the temperature climbs to 1,000 degrees and more. The mission is to enter the building, search for victims, find the fire and put it out. It is just part of the training that challenged nine firefighter recruits during a 16-week academy at the West Metro Fire Rescue Training Center. The class that started in late January, graduated in mid-May, with six recruits from West Metro and three from Tri-Lakes Monument Fire. West Metro often provides training facilities for other fire agencies that want to take advantage of a combined recruit academy. For the recruits, the academy is both physically and mentally challenging. They learn hands-on firefighting skills and spend many hours in the classroom, listening to lectures, reading thousands of pages from textbooks and taking dozens of tests. Every one of the would-be firefighters has to have the knowledge and skills necessary to be certified. Each day starts early, with physical training, then classroom instruction or skills building on the training ground. One of the first skills recruits learn is how to quickly put on their personal protective gear – or “bunkers” as they’re called: boots, pants, coat, gloves, hood, mask, helmet and air bottle. All in less than two minutes. “A fire agency is judged not only by how well firefighters do their job, but also by how quickly they’re able to get on scene,” said Dan Pfannenstiel, West Metro Training Chief.“ In an emergency, seconds can make a real difference. That’s why we teach the

WEST METRO FIRE RESCUE RECRUITS BATTLE A DUMPSTER FIRE as part of an intense 16-week academy at the West Metro Fire Rescue Training Center. Nine West Metro recruits graduated in May. PHOTO: WEST METRO FIRE RESCUE

recruits how important it is to be ready for every situation.” For the West Metro recruits, graduation from the academy is a milestone, but not the end of learning. For three years, they are considered “developing firefighters” and will be mentored by more experienced crews as they continue to build their skills. “The academy gives them a solid foundation,” said Pfannenstiel. “Real life situations and the guidance of experienced firefighters rounds out their training.” Every recruit class adopts a motto and for this class it was “Seeking to Serve.” As part of their oath, the West Metro recruits pledged to dedicate themselves to protecting life and property. The uniform and badges they now wear show their dedication to the community. Ronda Scholting is the Communications/Media Relations Specialist for West Metro Fire Rescue; contact her at rscholting@westmetrofire.org or 303-941-8317.

MEDICALLY SPEAKING Traveling This Summer? Tips for Staying Healthy “As a retired tailor/designer for 40 years I decided to return and work with Carousel Cleaners and share my talents and ability to provide exceptional service to a company that has integrity and genuinely cares for staff, community and patrons. I’m honored to now be a member of the Carousel family.”– Calvin

Carousel Cleaners 4040 W. 38th Ave. 303-477-1001

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Make a Difference by Donating Books During the month of July, the West 29th Marketplace Merchants will be hosting a book drive to assist Reach Out and Read Colorado. Merchants are accepting new and gently used books for children ages birth to 17 years. All books donated will be given to Reach Out and Read Colorado, a local foundation that trains doctors and nurses to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud and prescribes books to children at wellness checkups. Many of the merchants will be offering discounts to customers who donate three or more books. West 29th Marketplace is located on 29th Avenue between Sheridan and Fenton Street and includes local favorites such as Wheat Ridge Poultry and Twisted Smoothie. For more information on the book drive please visit shopwest29th.com or contact Jessica at jessica@wheatridgepoultry.com.

By Land or Sea, Stay Germ-free You may want to bring home a memento of your vacation – but that doesn’t include a llness is not in anyone's vacation plan. But bug that makes you sick. traveling in good health requires some This fact may surprise you: There's know-how and advance planning. Many little evidence that flying raises your risk folks know to check into immunizations at of getting a cold. But you can still protect least six weeks before going abroad. yourself by washing your hands In addition, these tips may often. If soap and water aren’t help you stay well on your next handy, use a hand sanitizer with trip: at least 60 percent alcohol. • When in doubt about the You can get health water, stick to bottled or canned and safety notices on your beverages. destination at the Centers for • If the food is questionable, Disease Control and Prevention stick to meals that are freshly Web site: www.cdc.gov/travel. cooked. These meals should If your research reveals that be served hot and quickly. sanitation is sketchy, choose Also, don't eat fresh fruits and cooked foods and bottled vegetables unless you wash and Kathy Crabtree beverages with no ice to keep peel them yourself. bugs at bay. And if you swim, try not to • If you regularly take any prescription swallow the water. Contaminated water can or over-the-counter medications, pack more cause diarrhea or other illnesses. than you think you will need. Also, ask your One last travel tip: Cruises and hotels doctor to provide extra prescriptions in case can be hit with outbreaks of noroviruses, you need refills. Luggage sometimes gets which cause vomiting and diarrhea. These lost, so carry a small supply of essential viruses spread through tainted food and medications with you in your purse or carryperson-to-person contact. To help prevent on bag. infection, wash hands often and avoid • Remember to bring extra prescriptions eating raw shellfish. for your contacts or eyeglasses in case of For more information on vaccines damage. Or bring along a spare pair. for travelers, call the Centers for Disease • Sunscreen, insect repellent, diarrhea Control and Prevention at 1-888-FYI-TRIP medications, and water-purification tablets (394-8747), or access their Web site at all are good to have when traveling. www.cdc.gov. • If you have a chronic medical condition, Dr. Cathy Crabtree is an internal mediask your doctor to give you a medic alert cine physician at Lutheran Medical Center. bracelet. Or carry a letter that explains your condition. n By

Dr. Kathy Crabtree

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

ngazette.com – JUNE 19-JULY 17, 2017 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

ASK THE EXPERT Edgewater Inventory Makes Tiny Gains – Total Number of Sales Skyrocket So, while we are certainly seeing an increase in new construction sales in the area, available inventory of those new homes e’ve talked about low inventory has diminished greatly, and it has not drawn before, and matters don’t seem to be attention away from Edgewater’s most getting any better in Edgewater. Sold prices popular inventory. Inventory in general and the number of sales are up, but available has not increased markedly, inventory is only seeing very but the number of sales has slight gains. increased dramatically. That Edgewater listing and sales would certainly indicate that data (REColorado.com) as of demand has risen to the point May 31 – last 12 months vs that some of the resale homes previous 12 months: that are selling now are perhaps • 107 homes sold – 39 not homes that would have done percent gain so well even a year ago. • Average sales price The lion’s share of the 48 $389,280 – 11.4 percent gain homes that sold in Edgewater • 110 new listings – 4.8 from Jan. 1 to the day this article percent gain was written (June 13) were in Jenny Apel We should be used to hearing the $325,000 to $425,000 price about another 10 percent plus range. price gain by now. As scary as that sounds, $325,000 - $425,000 Price Range sales it’s certainly been higher in the years right data Jan. 1 through June 13: after of the recession. One would think that • 25 homes sold a significant gain in the number of homes • Sellers on average receiving 100 sold would signal that inventory has eased percent of their list price up a bit, and that perhaps there are more • Average of 10 days on market before homes available for consumers to buy. The contracting truth of the matter is that Edgewater has • 13 of the 25 sold at or over ask price only seen five more listings over that past in 8 days or less. (By up to $25,000 over 12 months than it did in the previous. What ask. Likely most, if not all, received multiple does it mean? offers.) New construction numbers have not All the numbers mentioned above are helped to bolster the existing inventory. A impressive, but here are some words of building spurt in 2015 along 17th Avenue wisdom from someone rapidly becoming has allowed new construction to become and old broker: Price it right, and don’t let a larger share of the sold listings over the greed get the best of you! While 13 of the 25 last 12 months, as well as a significant homes sold in the $325,000 to $425,000 contributor to the average price increase, price range contracted at or over ask price, but new homes are greatly declining in 12 of them did not, and in some cases, availability. nearly a 10 percent reduction from the New construction listing and sales data original list price was required to make the (REColorado.com) as of May 31 – last 12 deal come together. Overpricing is common, months vs previous 12 months: and not every house sells. Once a property • 16 homes sold (not enough previous 12 has been in market for a few weeks, it can months’ sales data to draw a conclusion) easily be forgotten about and your chances • Average Sales Price – $477,550 (not of achieving full market value are then enough previous 12 months’ sales data to greatly diminished. Don’t underprice it draw a conclusion) either! Underpricing will likely bring you • 7 new listings – 100 percent down more offers, but did you actually achieve full • Accounts for 15 percent of the overall market value? You’ll never know. There is a sales in Edgewater over the last 12 months psychological barrier that a buyer generally The average Edgewater buyer, however, won’t cross when offering above ask price, is not set to purchase a nearly $500,000 even if their broker can show comparable new construction home. For a truer picture sales at that higher value. Pricing your home of what average sales price and price for what it’s actually worth and preparing it gains look like, perhaps we should look to to show at its very best is the only way to Edgewater’s most commonly sold – and insure you receive full value and achieving a among its most revered by Nostalgic Homes closing, and to do that, you need a seasoned – The Rambler: a Mid-Century ranch with expert, like a broker from Nostalgic Homes, an average of about 1150 square feet above to advise you. grade. If you are a seller believing that this Mid-Century Rambler listing and sales year is your best time to make a move, data (REColorado.com) as of May 31 – last you’re right. Make your move now! There 12 months vs. previous 12 months: are plenty of buyers in the market for your • 49 homes sold – 53 percent gain home at this very moment! • Average sales price $374,009 – 7.3 Jenny Apel is a broker with Nostalpercent gain gic Homes, 3737 W. 32nd Ave., Denver; • 55 new listings – 34 percent gain call 303-455-5535 or visit www.Nostalgi • Accounts for 46 percent of the overall cHomes.com. sales in Edgewater over the last 12 months n By

Jenny Apel

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afford this storm had the resources they needed to weather it. This kind of generosity Great selection of and willingness to help neighbors recover n any given day at Lutheran Medical Annuals • Perennials • Vegetables from the storm was echoed in countless Center you can hear angelic chimes Plants and House Plants stories I have heard in the weeks following accompany the delivery of a new arrival, but OUTSTANDING PRICES this storm. on May 8 these chimes were drowned out FAMILY OWNED FOR One lesson I learned from this storm is by the sound of breaking glass and thunder OVER 40 YEARS the story of the Good Samaritan. caused by the worst hailstorm in The parable of the Good Wheat Ridge history. In case you Samaritan is more a story about missed it, the May 8 hailstorm ABC LAUNDRY ABC LAUNDRY breaking boundaries than it is caused more than $1.4 billion Always Bright & Clean about doing good. Too often in damage across a 240-squareAlways Bright & Clean we focus on the “good” aspect mile area after a five-mile-wide of the story and less about the hail swath traveled over 48 miles The cleanest and friendliest laundry in town “Samaritan” aspect. If there is from Evergreen to Hudson, one thing a hailstorm is good for, striking every structure and Drop your laundry from 7-11 am it is breaking down boundaries. vehicle with at least 1.50-inch Weekdays & we’ll do it for you! The cleanest and friendliest laundry in diameter town hail or larger. The indiscriminate nature of $1.50/lb. hail is such that it doesn’t ask The epicenter of this storm Ready in 2 business days! you if you are unaffiliated, Zachary Urban was Wheat Ridge and more Drop your laundry from 7‐11 am Weekdays & 9990 44th Avenue • Wheat Ridge Republican or Democrat; it specifically, the Lutheran on 44th east of Kipling south $1.50/lb. sidewe’ll do it on fortheyou! doesn’t care who you voted for, or what Medical Center Campus (LMC). A trained ATM on insite your attitude, beliefs, creed, or status in weather service spotter reported a 2.75-inch Ready 2 business days! life may be. Hail is an equal opportunity hailstone at LMC. This was recorded as the destroyer. Hail is the great equalizer, it is an largest hailstone of what is now known as for us all to recognize that we the most catastrophic storm in state history. On 44th East of Kipling on the SouthAmong side.the damages caused by this storm opportunity are all in this together, and while we have 9990 44th Ave, Wheat Ridge CO 80033were the destruction of several panes of our differences, we also have our shared Come in for “Free Soap Tuesday”* the stained glass windows on the west side struggles. The feeling of helplessness we all felt as we watched this storm tear apart our of the Chapel of the Good Samaritan at homes and our community, was a collective Lutheran. In addition to this damage, there �While supplies last Tuesdays star�ng at 8 a� feeling. The recovery from this storm will be were hundreds of cars which had windows an opportunity for us all to recognize that smashed by the storm. what connects is more important than what In response to this storm Mr. John divides. The parable of the Good Samaritan Bandimere and LMC CEO, Mr. Grant ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! starts by asking a simple question, Who is Wicklund came together with employees 7110 West 44th Avenue my neighbor? This is a great opportunity to of Lutheran to raise more than $20,000 find out. to offer fellow employees assistance in 720-593-1994 Zachary Urban can be reached at 720recovering from this storm. This effort was walnutridgefamilymedicine.com 252-5930 or www.zacharyurban.com. to make sure those staff who could least Open 7 Days A Week 9 am-5pm

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HEALTHY EDGEWATER Edgewater Making Progress on Active Living Strategies n By

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EALthy Edgewater is thrilled to see new progress on strategies to make active living easier in Edgewater. The City of Edgewater has been working hard to make our great city more bike- and pedestrianfriendly. Here are a couple of updates:

Jefferson County Quick Wins Grant

The City of Edgewater has been awarded a $5,000 grant to install bike racks at the 25th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard parking lot from Jefferson County. Staff has approached ERA for the majority of the match but will also use some funds from the Streets and Sidewalks line item, in General Fund, to provide the concrete and paver area that will surround the bike racks. Staff has already begun removing the hedges on the north side of the parking lot. This project will create more bike parking in our busy business district.

community. Policies range from improved land use and transportation policies that can influence increased physical activity; to the promotion of farmers markets, community gardens and local nutrition education programs that can help increase residents’ access to healthy food. The HEALthy Edgewater committee was formed in response to the city’s participation in the HEAL Campaign. This group is working with the city to increase healthy eating and active living opportunities in our community through programs like the Neighbor to Market farm stand at the annual Market and Music and Edgewater Walks. One of the goals of the committee is to improve communication with Edgewater residents about events, programs and opportunities that come up regarding healthy eating and active living. Want to get involved or be on the committee? We currently have open slots for volunteers.

Volunteer Opportunities

Bike Lanes

The city hired a contractor this past May and completed all of the bike lanes throughout the city. Adding a lane with sharrows along 20th Avenue, Pierce Street and 26th Avenue along with shared parking sharrows along Harlan Street. Sharrows are street markings used to indicate a shared lane environment for bikers and motorists.

Here’s a Neighbor to Market volunteer opportunity: work a two-hour shift at our farm stand at the Farmers Market, June 29 through Sept. 7. Another volunteer role for our farm stand: If you’re a backyard gardener, bring your herbs, veggies or fruit down to the stand to be sold. You will get 90 percent of everything you sell.

What is Healthy Edgewater?

Edgewater Walks Program

Edgewater is one of many cities and towns in Colorado participating in the LiveWell Colorado HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign. In October 2014, Edgewater adopted a resolution that encourages the city to adopt policies that improve access to physical activity and healthy foods in the

Help us lead a community walk, a run, or a bike ride in September. It’s a great way to meet new people and contribute to our community. Email edgewaterwalks@gmail. com for more information. Lee Stiffler-Meyer serves on HEALthy Edgewater Committee.

the

ngazette.com – JUNE 19-JULY 17, 2017 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

Help Architect Your Own Community: West Colfax Food Co-Op Update n By

Sally Griffin

n the December 2016 edition of the Neighborhood Gazette, I wrote about a food desert on West Colfax where communities surrounding it have difficulty finding good quality fresh food. The West Colfax Food Cooperative is working hard to remedy this situation. They have had planning and economic impact studies done, are working to set up the site for the co-op and have hired a project manager to bring all their hard work to fruition. I met recently with the Project Manager, Terry Freedman, to for an update on the status of the co-op. Freedman, who has an extensive background in food-based businesses and in training for chefs and others starting in restaurants and other food-based business, explained that the co-op expanded its boundaries to between 6th and 32nd avenues and between Federal and Sheridan. They have acquired two grants from the Denver Foundation, one for strengthening communities and the other as part of their Directive Grant. They have also received a grant from the Food Cooperative Initiative (FCI) to provide technical assistance, help with community outreach and planning for a community and market study. The co-op has adopted the following values: providing fresh, healthy, affordable food in West Colfax, local whenever possible and community-centered, economically self-sustaining; celebrating culinary and cultural diversity in an inclusive, welcoming, collaborative environment; and doing things so they are efficient, convenient and wastereducing. To do this they have determined to develop a hybrid type of food co-op. A hybrid food co-op combines programs that encourage community-based shopping, provide community support and sustain community pride. The co-op will use the physical space of the facility to accomplish its values.

To make this hybrid model possible, they have developed partners to help them. One such partner is Focus Points Family Resource Center and Right to Live Well. Focus Points is a local nonprofit that builds strong communities by strengthening families with the following services: School Readiness, Adult Education, Health and Wellness, Workforce and Economic Development, Community Engagement. In July, Focus Points received a grant to develop a support center for entrepreneurs building and running local family microbusinesses. This is where their connection comes with the co-op. In one part of the facility is a room for four vendors to market their food-based products. Those individuals and families in the community that have received training and help from Focus Points in developing their businesses will be able to rent affordable space at the co-op where they can launch their food-based business and gain real-time restaurant and catering skills. In the middle of the facility is space for dry goods and produce. To provide the freshest produce and locally produced food products, the co-op will team up with the High Plains Food Cooperative. They are family farmers who offer locally grown and sustainably produced food. They produce non-GMO and/or Certified Organic products. They offer hundreds of options including fresh produce, eggs and a variety of meats. An example of this kind of farm is the Ambrosia Farm in Bennett. On the High Plains Co-op web page, they talk about raising a breed of turkey: “They are beautiful birds that fly, chase bugs, chase kids, and thrive on our prairie. My family has taken to ‘Turkey Walks’ with birds following us wherever we go.” Members in West Colfax Food Co-op will be able to buy from the High Plains Food Co-op, either in the on-site location or directly. A third resource for the West Colfax Food Co-op is the Corky Gonzalez Library. The Library works hard to be a valuable

resource to the community in ways other than reading and visual materials. The Library has open forums which local residents can attend and indicate what resources they need in their community. The library personnel then work to help find these resources and have them available in the library or be able to tell residents where they can access those resources. The co-op will work with library to help determine how they can best serve their area. The final resource is you! The co-op is working to develop a system of advocates in each of the communities they want to serve, including local Hispanic, Jewish and Somali communities. You can help be an “architect” for your own community. “We can retain our diversity if we all participate,” said Freeman. The co-op is looking for individuals to be members, to be advocates, and partners to provide community support and enhancement activities, including nutritional educational classes, nutritional outreach, co-op scholarship, food job training and cooking classes.

People who join the co-op will be able to influence these efforts and others that are important to them or their neighborhood. And, of course, they will have access to the best in fresh produce, locally raised meat, and community-based food services. Opening a storefront for the West Colfax Food Co-op will take capital funds. They depend on community members like you becoming a Member-Owner as this capital campaign starts. A Member-Owner share is a one-time equity investment in the coop and costs $200. They are also offering $10 kids memberships. This is a great way to get children involved and thinking about the benefits of this effort in their lives. The co-op also offers a payment plan for $25 or $50 a month. For those who can’t afford it, the co-op board has developed a scholarship program. However, anyone will be able to shop at the co-op once it is open, and it will accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) for those relying on this program. For more information, visit www.westcolfaxfoodcoop.org.

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

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NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – JUNE 19-JULY 17, 2017 – ngazette.com

WEST COLFAX UPDATE Arts, Tours, Entertainment and More on Colfax n By

Melanie Stover

June 24: Lakewood Arts’ Garden Tour

The Lakewood Arts Garden Tour features an amazing array of local gardens and lunch at the Gallery. Purchase tickets for the Saturday tour, which runs from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at LakewoodArts.org.

Through June 30: Golden Music Sale

Golden Music is having its 4th Annual Summer Step-up String Sale through June 30. Swing by 10395 W. Colfax Ave. for discounts on master violins, violas, cellos and basses. Free carbon bow with every master level purchase.

July 2: Beer + Yoga Class

Join Container Collective Yoga at WestFax Brewing Company for a $15 Beer Flow class from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The class includes one free beer and proceeds are donated to 40 West Arts District’s West Colfax MuralFest. Register for the class at cc360denver.com/ workshops.html.

Through July 2: ‘Mud Blue Sky’ at The Edge Theater

Three flight attendants find themselves questioning their lives in the “friendly skies.” Joined by an unlikely companion, their typical layover is turned upside down. The Edge Theater’s “Mud Blue Sky” offers a heartwarming and funny look at work and motherhood. Purchase tickets at www. theedgetheater.com.

July 7: First Friday Art Opening at 40W Gallery

Don’t miss the First Friday Opening for 40W Gallery’s “Contemporary Still Life”

exhibit from 5 to 8 p.m. at 1560 Teller St. This show explores how objects tell the contemporary story about who we are as a community and a society. Show runs July 5 through 29. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Visit 40WestArts.org for event information.

summer, now on Saturdays from 9 a.m.to 2 p.m. at Lamar Station Plaza, 6759 W. Colfax Ave. The market features live music, several food trucks and vendors of all kinds, including free yoga from 10 to 10:30 a.m. with Container Collective Yoga. Visit 40WestFarmersMarket.com for details.

July 19: WCCA General Meeting

Aug. 12: WestColfax MuralFest

Stop by the West Colfax Community Association (WCCA) monthly meeting on Wednesday, July 19 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at 40 West Gallery, 1560 Teller St., to hear updates from local officials, business owners and neighborhood leaders. Free coffee and breakfast items are provided. WCCA meetings are held the third Wednesday of every month. Visit WestColfax.org for details.

July 20: Third Thursday Lunch with 40 West Arts

Join 40 West Arts District for a monthly meeting of the minds and a chance to network and dialogue with other creatives. BYOL (bring your own lunch) and 40W will provide a loose topic each month to “chew” on. It’s the third Thursday of every month from noon to 1 p.m. at Pure Colorado Event Center, 7110 W. Colfax Ave. Everyone is welcome and no RSVP is needed.

New Craft & Craft Program

40 West Arts’ new Craft & Craft program is all about enjoying craft beer and craft projects. Participants attended the first class on June 7 at WestFax Brewing Company and learned how to make encaustic wax coasters. Tickets are reasonably priced and include all materials and instruction, a free beer, a brewery tour and snacks. To learn more about upcoming Craft & Craft events, visit 40WestArts.org/craft.

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From live music, food trucks and a beer garden, to live mural painting, kid-friendly art activities and trolley tours of murals in 40 West Arts District, there’s something for everyone at this year’s West Colfax MuralFest. Learn more about the Aug. 12 event, held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Lamar Station Plaza, 6501 W. Colfax Ave., by visiting WestColfaxMuralFest.org.

40 West Arts Welcomes New Artist in Residence: James Overstreet n By

Melanie Stover

ecent Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design graduate James Overstreet is 40 West Arts’ 2017-2018 Resident Artist.

40 West Arts Continued from page 1

Collective Yoga is holding a workshop. June 20 is Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, and the halfway point of the year. There will be activities and exercises to encourage releasing fears and getting rid of unnecessary baggage. Once renewed, refreshed, and focused, participants can set good intentions for the rest of the year. Container Collective Yoga is at 1492 Ammons St., and the workshop is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. You can, also, join Container Collective Yoga at the 40 West Farmers Market for free yoga at 10 a.m. every Saturday. The Gallery of Everything, 6719 W. Colfax, right by Casa Bonita, certainly does live up to its name. Open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, there is an amazing variety in this shop. There is art by many artists, antiques of many kinds, and even art supplies. So many events, a bit of this and a little of that, are happening in the gallery. On June 19, Creative Expressions and Caregivers will provide a class on the value of art for many people in care. Judy Cybuch, one of the owners,

Under the Dome Continued from page 7

the construction of housing for some of our most vulnerable Coloradans. However, I was incredibly disappointed to see a bill killed by Senate Republicans that would have provided a stable source of funding to build more affordable homes by increasing the documentary fee on home purchases by one penny per $100 of home value. This is a smart way to create sustainable funding as newcomers to Colorado would also pay this fee. The revenue from this small change would have provided stable funding to help prevent Colorado families from being priced out of their neighborhoods. Finally, we ran a series of bills to improve renters’ rights. One new law will require 21 days’ notice before a landlord can raise rent or end a month-to-month tenancy, and another will reform the tax lien process for mobile home owners so that they don’t lose their homes over minor tax delinquencies. These are good steps, but we need to do more for renters. We also worked hard to pass bills to limit rental application

He will reside in a live/work studio unit at Lamar Station Crossing, the award-winning transit-oriented community by Metro West Housing Solutions located on the W Line. Overstreet will host six or more free art programs throughout the year geared towards community members of all ages and levels of expertise. 40 West Arts, in collaboration with Metro West Housing Solutions, LakewoodWest Colfax Business Improvement District, West Colfax Community Association, and RMCAD, launched the Artist in Residence program in January 2014. The program is intended to serve as a powerful and catalytic initiative that will bring energy to the area, provide a differentiator for the organizations involved, and demonstrates to the community the ability for multiple organizations and agencies to collaborate on a common mission: to energize the corridor. Overstreet follows three prior successful resident artists: Alice Coles; Miranda Samon, now art director for 40 West Arts; and Ryan Mathews, who pioneered the program in 2014. Learn more about the Artist in Residence program at 40WestArts.org/Home/ Artist-In-Residence.

explained they, also, have a small gallery within the gallery called GOE2 that features the work of local artists. The exhibit in the GOE2 changes every six weeks, so there is always something new to see. Beginning on July 7, GOE2 will feature local artists’ interpretations of “The Life of Trees.” Laurie Ennis, another owner, explained that when she imagined the theme she thought of pine trees that need a forest fire for their seeds to fall and sprout and imagined the way the environment shapes trees. How each artist will imagine and create using the theme is what will make the exhibit so interesting to see. Whenever you check out the Gallery of Everything, you are sure to find something unexpected and wonderful. On June 21, from 7:30 to 9 a.m., the West Colfax Community Association (WCCA) holds its monthly meeting at 40 West Arts, 1560 Teller St. This community group supports programs that help the art community and new businesses in the area. The 40 West Art District is a statecertified creative district with many plans and expectations for future growth, a district developing a personality and presence. If you want to be a part of shaping the renaissance of the growing and changing Lakewood’s West Colfax corridor; check out this meeting and join the group. fees to actual costs and to require landlords to provide tenants with copies of their leases and receipts for cash payments, but these bills were killed by Senate Republicans. As more and more Coloradans are renting, it’s more important than ever to keep fighting for basic fairness for renters. These issues are not going away. There are some who would like to build a wall around our state or set arbitrary growth caps that would only make housing affordability crisis worse, but I believe we must take real action. We must plan for smart growth in areas where people have access to transit and bike paths so that we minimize the number of cars we’re adding to our already congested roads. And we must make sure growth pays its way in Colorado so that we can build more affordable housing, preserve our neighborhoods, and invest in improving our schools, roads, and bridges to accommodate our growing population while protecting the quality of life that we Coloradans enjoy so much. I will continue working on these issues in the years ahead, and I would love your feedback. Contact Colorado House District 23 Representative Chris Kennedy at 303-8662951 or chris.kennedy.house@state.co.us.

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

ngazette.com – JUNE 19-JULY 17, 2017 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

WEST COLFAX UPDATE Colorado Pro’s Kitchen Serves the Neighborhood n By

Nancy Hahn

ene Kalesti is a man with ideas. He is not a man who is willing to sit back and just think about ideas. He gets up and talks to other people, asks questions, works together with like-thinking people, and brings those ideas to life. In 2016 Kalesti and his wife began attending monthly meetings of the WWCA, the West Colfax Community Association. In August, they met Sandy and Carla Buckstein. The two couples had great ideas for the West Colfax area and began to build the ideas into reality. The Bucksteins owned 7110 W. Colfax and the collaboration began. Working for several months, the Pro Kitchen and Event Center moved from imagination to being built. The couples visualize the space as a Center for the 40West Arts District. The community can display artwork, hold events, and engage in spirited discussion at the Third Thursday Bag Lunch at the Center. The Kalestis and the Bucksteins call Pro Kitchen and Event Center a ‘business incubator.’ Gene Kalesti is now the C.E.O. and chef of the Pure Colorado Event Center and Pro Kitchens in the 40 West Art District at 7110 W. Colfax Avenue in Lakewood. The event center, with parking for one hundred cars, is perfect for any large event. Wedding receptions, quinceaneras, or any other large event using the event center can have the event catered from the kitchen or even choose to prepare food themselves in the kitchen. Because Gene Kalesti and his wife speak several languages, arrangements can be made for events for people not completely comfortable in English. Kalesti, also, uses the kitchen to make and bottle his salad dressings. He encourages the community to make use of the kitchen for

similar small business uses or preparing for farmer’s markets. The center, also, has meeting space for smaller events; like yoga classes or business meetings. Forty local artists have their art on exhibit. Fresh flowers and plants sit on window sills. Kalesti pictures the space as a place for the neighborhood. Meetings, classes, and small events of all kinds have a comfortable and attractive space at a reasonable price. On the third Thursday of each month, the event center is the site of the BYOL (Bring your own lunch) meeting. Anyone can join in and everyone is encouraged to jump in with their ideas. This is a forum for any sort of discussion, often including upcoming events in the 40 West Art District. The lot across the street from Colorado Pro Kitchens has parking space for up to thirty-five food trucks. There are many rules and regulations about food trucks and their parking time and requirements that had to be considered. The space is well-fenced and well-planned. When Kalesti began planning the fences, he consulted with neighboring businesses at every stage. To make the best use of space, he even agreed to fence a neighboring business’s property. The fees food truck owners pay include access to electricity, water, and a dump station for gray water (relatively clean water from washing dishes or other kitchen uses). Food truck owners are able to use the inside kitchen at Colorado Pro Kitchens to do the large prep work for their food trucks, also. Once Gene Kalesti began building the use of the event center and food truck space, he continued to think about food and the community. Many people in the community have less access to fresh food and healthy vegetables than they should have. Fresh fruits and vegetables can, also,

GENE KALESTI, CEO and chef of the Pure Colorado Event Center and Pro’s Kitchen, 7110 W. Colfax Ave., preps food in the center’s expansive professional kitchen. PHOTO: NANCY HAHN be prohibitively expensive for families on a tight budget. So, what about a Farmer’s Market? It sounded like a good idea, so with some talk and some infectious enthusiasm; it happened. This summer will be the second year for the 40 West Farmer’s Market at the corner of Colfax and Pierce. This year the market can accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and Colorado Double Up Food Bucks. This helps bring healthy food within reach for more people. The market is open from 9 am to 2 pm every Saturday from June 3 until October 7. There is space for 45 vendors, nearly all selling real food at reasonable prices. Many area shops and other locations have, also, passed out 20 percent off

2017 TOUR CANCELLED!

coupons for the market. Container Collective Yoga offers free morning yoga classes from 10 to 10:30am each Market day. There is free live music from 11am until closing. In addition, vendors from the Farmers Market will be able to use Pro Kitchens facility to prepare their food for market – washing and wrapping, for example. Gene Kalesti worked to insure that the Farmer’s Market would be a place where families could buy fresh, affordable food. He wants Colorado Pro’s Kitchens to be the community’s kitchen and Pure Colorado Event Center to be the community’s meeting space. All of these spaces seem to be well on their way to being just that. All of Gene Kalesti’s businesses demonstrate his business savvy, but his ideas and views about his businesses make him sound more like a great neighbor. The one who plans the block party, helps the kids fix their bikes, and leaves a box of food on Grandma Peg’s doorstep every now and then. Gene Kalesti sees Lakewood and West Colfax as his neighborhood. He wants the best for his neighbors and the families, who live and shop in his neighborhood. Families are important to Gene Kalesti. Gene learned “the delightful work and love of raising a child” when he raised his son in Los Angeles from the age of two as a single father. His son, Bailey, is now a “highly successful computer graphics designer;” who designed the graphics for Pure Colorado Pro’s Kitchen and Event Center. He, of course, loves to cook. Gene says without the support and understanding of his wife “nothing I do would even be possible.” Gene married his wife, May, in 2006. May is from Venezuela and is “my mirror, she’s my soundboard. She is, definitely, my muse.” The 40 West Art District is pleased to have such good neighbors.

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NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – JUNE 19-JULY 17, 2017 – ngazette.com

WHAT’S HAPPENING Come Jam on the Jetty for Lake Middle School, July 1 Enjoy a summer afternoon, picnic and live music by the Dyrty Byrds at Sloans Lake at Jamming on the Jetty, a fundraiser for Lake International Middle School, Saturday, July 1, 4 to 8 p.m., near the Boathouse on the Jetty in Sloans Lake Park. The free event is hosted by AJ Steinke at Your Castle Real Estate, and features activities for all ages. All proceeds benefit the school. Sponsors include Denver Outdoor Adventure Company, Motorado, Foothills Motorcycles, Alamo Drafthouse, Land Title Guarantee Company, Rafael Espinoza, Water Ski Specialty, Sexy Pizza, Key Renter Property Management, Expert Exteriors, and Edgewater Modern Dentistry. For more information, visit All4Sloans. com or Facebook.com/all4sloans.

Blues & BBQ Festival Brings Music, Food and Fun to Citizen’s Park

20TH ANNUAL BLUES & BBQ for Better Housing Festival is July 29. The event takes place at Citizen’s Park in Edgewater and has raised more than $175,000 over 20 years for Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver. everyone. Check out the bands: Cup A Joe, Wild Love Tigress, Funk Knuf, John Weeks Band, The Symbols, My Blue Sky, Six Foot Joe and the Red Hot Rhinos, The Duke Street Kings and the Austin Young Band.

Free Mulch for Lakewood Residents

The 20th Annual Blues & BBQ for Better Housing Festival is July 29. People from all over the Denver area will gather at Citizen's Park in Edgewater to enjoy the best local music, craft beer and local food during this fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver. “So far, the festival has raised and donated more than $175,000 to Habitat and we hope to push over the $200,000 mark this year,” said Ranger Miller, who launched the festival and heads up The Duke Street Kings, a local rock and blues band. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Joyride Brewing Co. and Upslope Brewing Co. will be pouring and the food will be phenomenal. The festival is appropriate for all ages and the there will be fun for

Three Big Days free admission!

Celebrate New Signage on Lakewood’s Sweetest Ride, June 24

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Lakewood residents are invited to pick up free mulch between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on two Saturdays, June 24 and July 1, at the City Greenhouse, 9556 W. Yale Ave. Staff will be available with a loader to assist residents. Mulch is the byproduct of Lakewood’s tree trimming operations and limb drop-off events. The mulch has been reground, which makes for excellent ground cover in shrub and tree beds. Mulch helps landscaped areas retain water, which reduces the need for watering. It also helps keep soil temperatures consistent, which helps the establishment of root systems. Mulch is an excellent weed barrier and helps beautify landscaping. For more information, call 720-9635246.

Zoppé Circus!

A 100-year-old family performance now a Wheat Ridge tradition! Don’t miss all the exciting performances.

Car Show

August 11-13, 2017

Anderson Park • 44th & Field thecarnationfestival.com

Sunday August 13 $20 Entry Fee Details? thecarnationfestival.com

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Cyclists and walkers, families and kids, are invited to walk or bike Candy Cane Lane – the Sweetest Ride – on Lakewood Gulch, June 24, 1 to 3 p.m., sponsored by Colfax Business Improvement District. Guests can check out the new wayfinding signs, search out sweets, snacks and fix up their bike with a light tune at a bevy of booths along the route, from the Perry Light Rail Station to the confluence with the South Platte. Volunteers installed multi-lingual wayfinding signage on the Lakewood Gulch Trail on June 11. The project, West Colfax Connects, builds on CBID’s efforts to improve pedestrian mobility to support access to businesses for local residents. With funding from the Colorado Health Foundation, the goal is to connect West Colfax with surrounding neighborhoods, particularly Sun Valley as it undergoes major redevelopment. The project will increase ease of access via Lakewood Gulch through a system of wayfinding signs, and offers a safer route between neighborhoods by foot and bike than crossings like the one at 14th and Federal. For more information, visit westcolfaxbid.org, or download the ride map at bit.ly/ sweetestride.

Free Renter-toHomeowner Workshop, June 28 Nonprofit Brothers Redevelopment is offering a free workshop to show individuals and families – including those who have recently overcome homelessness and joblessness – how to chart a course of action to become a homeowner. Held Wednesday, June 28, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 2250 Eaton St., Garden Level, Edgewater, it is open to the general public and includes a free pizza dinner, and raffle for two gift cards.

Film/Theater Continued from page 2

Alamo Drafthouse and its employees want to actively participate in the community by working with schools like Colfax Elementary and organizations like Girls Inc. As an entertainment provider, Bessette says Alamo Drafthouse’s ultimate goal is “to bring these incredible cinematic experiences to our audiences. People love coming to the movies and whether that’s because of the programming or because of the specialty screenings, we have a lot to offer. We genuinely care about what people want. We want to know that what is a film they want to see that they haven’t seen. What kind of movie parties and singalongs do they want? Aside from providing this experience for people, we want them to know we’re listening and we take their feedback very seriously.” For more information, or to get tickets online, visit www.drafthouse.com/denver.

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Workshop participants will learn how to compare credit and financial services, start a savings plan to build wealth, and develop a long-term action plan for becoming a homeowner. Brothers is partnering with the nonprofit Family Promise for the workshop, with help from sponsor Chase Bank. Free, but RSVP by June 26 to instructor Patrick Noonan at patrick@brothersredevelopment.org or 303-685-4203.

RTD Launches MyRide Smart Cards RTD recently introduced MyRide smart cards, making it easy for riders to pay their fare, without having to worry about carrying exact change. Riders simply tap their MyRide card on the smart card reader on RTD’s bus and rail vehicles. Patrons paying with a MyRide card receive a discount of 25 cents per trip (or 15 cents per discounted trip). To learn more about MyRide smart cards, visit www.rtd-denver.com/myride. shtml.

Jeffco Public Library Launches Summer Reading Program Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) launched its Summer Reading program on June 1. This year, the program has a community-wide goal of reading a collective 30 million minutes in two months. JCPL aims to create a culture of reading in Jefferson County while helping students maintain or improve their reading levels for when they return to school in the fall. JCPL also is continuing its Summer Reading School Contest, awarding $800 to five Jeffco Public Schools that have the highest percentage of finishers (students who read and log at least eight hours) in their respective categories (preschool; elementary; middle; high; charter/choice/ option). Register online at www.jeffcolibrary. org/SummerReading or in any Jefferson County library through July 3.

Local, Live Theatre Close to Edgewater is another entertainment option for those who appreciate live theater. Located in the heart of the 40West Arts District, the Edge strives to bring unique or regional premiers to its audiences. This includes “Mud Blue Sky,” which opened on June 9 and runs through July 2. Vice President and Managing Director Patty Yaconis, who co-founded the theater with her husband Rick, is particularly proud that “Mud Blue Sky” was written by a woman and features mostly female actors playing strong female roles. The Edge endeavors to debut shows other theaters in the region have not yet performed. As we mentioned in the May 2017 issue of the Neighborhood Gazette, the theater was the first to get rights to the show “Misery” and was also the first theater in the country to run the show since it closed on Broadway. To purchase tickets or to learn what shows are playing through the rest of the 2017 season, visit www.theedgetheater. com.

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ngazette.com – JUNE 19-JULY 17, 2017 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

PHOTOS: SAINTS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH

Annual Parish Festival Offers Cars, Music and Family Fun By Gwen Clayton

eter and Paul were two of the most famous apostles from the New Testament, and they both share the same feast day in the Christian church – June 29. That date also happens to be the anniversary of the opening of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Wheat Ridge. For the past nine years, the parish has celebrated its anniversary with an annual festival that includes a car show, live music, children’s rides, carnival games, vendors and fun for every generation. The 2017 Saints Peter and Paul Parish Festival will run from Friday, June 23 to Sunday, June 25. Doors open at 5 p.m. all three days, and close at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 8 p.m. on Sunday. “The parking lot transforms into a family friendly environment where kids can run around while parents can enjoy the night,” said festival co-chair Zachary Urban. One of the highlights every year is the car show. “We’re inviting all comers to come out and show off their ride,” Urban said. “We get motorcycles and bicycles – even McLarens. Being in Wheat Ridge, you never know what’s going to show up.” The musical lineup this year features local bands Struck by Lightning on Friday night, Serenade in Blue on Saturday and Wild Mountain on Sunday. “Struck by Lightning plays classic 1970s rock and roll,” Urban said. “They really draw people in. Serenade in Blue is a 13-piece swing band. They do a good job of creating a relaxed atmosphere while still giving us a big band, classic feel for a Saturday night. Wild Mountain is a great band that has a big local following. They play at Clancy’s and other places around town. It was quite a coup for us to get them.” The Facebook page for Wild Mountain describes the group as having a power folk/rock/Celtic/bluegrass sound that the members have dubbed “Rocky Mountain Greengrass music.” Admission to the festival is free, but profits raised from the vendor booths, raffle and donations exceed $14,000 each year. Proceeds go toward the parish’s school programs and various outreach efforts such the nursing home and homebound ministries. According to the church’s website, the four-acre site for Saints Peter and Paul Parish was acquired June 1, 1948. Reverend Robert G. McMahon was appointed the first pastor on June 30, 1949. The parish festival started in 2008 and attracts roughly 3,000 people every year. “The festival is a way for the parish to interface with the community,” Urban said. “The community supports the parish in a number of ways. We wanted to throw a party and have a good time with our neighborhood.”

Celebrating Over 50 Years on 44th Avenue

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Tuesday-Saturday 11- 9 • Sunday 12-9 • Closed Monday

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Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church is located at 3900 Pierce St. in Wheat Ridge. For more information, call 303-424-3706 or visit www. peterandpaulcatholic.org.

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