Neighborhood Gazette – June 2018 by Neighborhood Gazette

EDGEWATER COLLECTIVE Connecting Schools To Community Through Events Page 4

LOCAL NEWS Who’s On Your Local Primary Election Ballot? Page 6

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS A Cool Place With A Cool Mission Page 14

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| SLOAN’S LAKE | WEST COLFAX | TWO CREEKS June 18 – July 15, 2018 • ngazette.com • FREE

Festivals And Fairs Coming To Your Neighborhood ■ By

Sally Griffin

he deﬁnition of a festival is “a celebration or an occasion for joy, often with a program of cultural events.” A fair is “a public exhibit of culture and particular achievement, often combined with entertainment and sale of products.” Lucky for our area, we have plenty of both. It is that time of year that is the best time for joy, celebration, and fun. I remember how much fun my siblings and I had with carnival rides and games, parades, music, food, and special treats when we were growing up in this area. This year, we want to remind you of several festivals or fairs that will take place in our parks and streets.

Carnation Festival The Carnation Festival is a celebration of the Wheat Ridge community since the city’s incorporation in 1969. Once designated as Carnation City, Wheat Ridge embraces its heritage through this wonderful event. Celebrating its Continued on page 8

40 WEST’S ARTLINE OPENED WITH A BLOCK PARTY on First Friday, June 1, on Lakewood Place between Reed and Pierce streets. The bright green-painted line on sidewalks guides visitors along the 4-1/2 mile route connecting activities and artwork at local parks. PHOTO BY KATHRYN ZEIGLER/COURTESY OF THE 40 WEST ARTS DISTRICT

Renewed Life For Merritt Memorial Methodist Church Building ■ By

Ken Lutes

enerations Church is conducting services in the Sloan Lake neighborhood where members of the Merritt Memorial Methodist Church worshipped from 1902 to 2016. Founders of Generations Church, Jody and Mandy Earley, were able to rent the Merritt building at 23rd Avenue and Irving Street in July of 2017. They started informal services at their West Highland home in 2015 but soon outgrew the space and began public services at Valdez Elementary School the next year. The Earleys are pleased with the growth that Generations is experiencing in its current home and consider the growth to be a sign of relevance. The average weekly attendance at Generations is about 65; when Merritt closed, the congregation had fallen well under 15, according to the Rev. Paul Kottke, United Methodist Church’s district superintendent at the time. He also stated that church attendance in the U.S. was trending downward, a sign of the “saturated lives” people have these days. “A lot of connection and community does happen on line and at meetups where people ﬁnd community in diﬀerent ways,” Jody Earley says, “but the message and purpose of the church is as relevant as it has always been. “There are many metrics by which to measure the success of a church. Although church attendance [in the U.S.] is declining, one of the things for us is being the church to our community. We’re not just waiting for people to show up on Sunday morning. We’re more intentional about reaching the community outside of these four walls.” The Earleys believe that what keeps a church relevant is a sincere connection to its community and the commitment to service. In the church parking lot is the church’s

white truck/van with “Hope” painted on its sides. “In September,” said Mandy Earley, “we’ll use the Hope truck to help get 10,000 bags of non-perishable food to families in need, and to food banks as well. We try to be supportive of what people are doing, to let them know we appreciate them and that there’s no strings attached.” “We’ve taken cookies to North High, Edison Elementary, Lake Middle School, Fire House 12, and the District 1 Police Department,” Jody Earley said. “The Hope truck could also be used to help someone less fortunate to move. We plan to ﬁll it with

school supplies for schools this fall.” The Earleys met in their home state of Oklahoma in 1998 at a church summer camp. “We married in 1999 and had our ﬁrst child while living in Tulsa,” Jody Earley said. “We thought we’d spend the rest of our lives in Tulsa. Then we felt a calling to move out, but we didn’t know where.” In 2003, they found themselves serving at a church in Gaithersburg, Md., a suburb of Washington, D.C. “It was in the process of moving to Maryland that we thought maybe someday, several years in the future, we would pastor a church, which in today’s vernacular is

called ‘planting a church.’ “Thirteen years later, we ended up here in Denver, with our four girls, all of whom go to public schools,” said Mandy Earley. “We really just fell in love with the city.” Looking for a family-oriented community, the ﬁrst neighborhood that stood out to them was Stapleton; another was Washington Park. “One day,” Jody Earley said, “we were in Highlands Square [32nd and Lowell], and we felt this was the neighborhood we were supposed to be in. A door to opportunity opened, and we ended up with a house in Continued on page 2

PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

Michael Klinker’s Passion For Trees Takes Root In Edgewater ■ By

Laurie Dunklee

ichael Klinker makes it his business to look up — at trees, that is. The Edgewater resident’s goal is to grow the city’s leafy canopy by helping people to plant more trees. “Everyone looks down at their grass and their ﬂowers. People don’t often think to plant trees, even though they help both our environment and our home values,” says 34-year-old Klinker, who moved from Indiana to the Sloan’s Lake neighborhood in 2012, and to Edgewater last year. “Trees are my passion. I’m looking to make it easier for people to choose their trees by providing lots of information in one place.” Klinker’s “one place” is arboradvisor.com, a free website he built in his spare time that provides information about the 75 best trees to plant in the Denver area. Klinker is renovating his house and upgrading his property, and in Continued on page 2

ARBOR ADVISOR WEBSITE CREATOR MICHAEL KLINKER wants to grow the city’s green canopy. PHOTO BY LAURIE DUNKLEE

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Merritt Methodist Continued from page 1

West Highland in 2015.” Mandy Earley says they operate the church like they do their family. “Jody and I lead the church together. In our home, where we have our four daughters, we make decisions together. We work together, side by side, and bring our own strengths to the table. My background is in early childhood development. I help with kids and lead in a lot of areas. “I think the church is beautiful when both men and women work in partnership to bring their strengths to the table, and I think that’s been one of the greatest changes that I’ve seen in the church.” “We are a Christian church, but not a church just for Christians,” Jody Earley said. “Whether people are skeptical, or have a different faith background or maybe no faith background, they are welcome. We are intentional about being a place where people can belong even if they are unsure what they believe.” When Merritt Church closed in 2016, the property was sold to developer Lance Nading, who intended to convert the interior of the historic church and the adjacent building into a community coworking space. Nading says that’s still his long-term plan, but right now there’s no hard timeline. “The more time the Earleys have to grow their church, the stronger they’ll be when they do leave,” he said.

Klinker Continued from page 1

2015 he began looking for trees to plant. He was surprised at the difficulty. “I hired an arborist to help me because I didn’t really know what to buy,” he said. “We were looking at Google images and I realized there was no good place to reference data about this. I had a light-bulb moment when I realized this was an opportunity to make the process better.” His experience in landscaping, as well as in the military and healthcare software, helped Klinker pursue his Arbor Advisor idea. Growing up in Westfield, near Indianapolis, he worked for landscapers and at garden centers throughout high school and college. “I always liked working outdoors,” he said. After 9/11, at age 20, Klinker enlisted and spent four years in the Marine Corps, including a two-year stint in Iraq in 20062007. “I learned a lot of things, including how people make decisions when there’s no blueprint,” he said. Klinker earned a business degree from Indiana University and now he works from home in healthcare software, a job he says informs the Arbor Advisor project. “My business is decision support — analytics — for executives who report on the profitability of their business. One thing I realized is that people can’t make a decision if there are too many options, so it helps to narrow them down.” Klinker researched hundreds of sources for arboradvisor.com, including nursery and university websites, and narrowed the list down to 75 trees available locally. “I just wanted the 75 best options that are low-maintenance and not likely to die or be cut down in 10 years,” he said. He further narrowed the options with a filtering system based on where the tree will be planted and other factors. “You choose whether it’s full sun, how big of a tree you want, whether it’s fast- or slow-growing, and if you want a shade tree, a flowering tree or a fruit tree. You wind up with the best three to five trees based on the search options.” Klinker wrote a description of each tree that includes recommendations, such as its suitability as a visibility screen or a windbreak. The information includes

PASTORS JODY AND MANDY EARLEY co-lead services and outreach activities at Generations Church. PHOTO BY KEN LUTES

Former longtime members of Merritt Methodist Church, Shirley and Mary (last names not given), regularly attend Generations Church. Jody Easley said they told him as long as there’s a church at 23rd and Irving, they’ll come. “I like to believe that the founding members from 1902 are looking down and smiling on us and cheering us on,” he said. For more information on Generations Church, visit www.generations.city.

photos of the trees in all four seasons. He said arborists are using the site to help their customers choose trees. “I’m not an arborist but I’ve learned a lot about trees. I think they are underappreciated. Trees can add up to 15 percent to a home’s value, as well as cutting down on cooling bills. Trees clean the air and add color to the streetscape. They make the city look a lot better.” Klinker said Colorado’s climate and elevation present certain challenges. “The weather can swing rapidly, and a late storm can break limbs. Also, it can be harder to get trees established in our arid climate; new trees need supplemental water.” Nurseries don’t always sell the best trees for our climate, he said. “They sell trees we should not plant in Denver, like aspen trees, which are good in the mountains but not at lower elevations where it’s hot.” He says it’s OK to buy trees at big box stores as long as you know what you’re getting. “Stores like Home Depot can be cheaper but call ahead to see what they have.” The trees at the top of his list include linden and honey locust trees, “for their deep roots,” as well as evergreens like Colorado blue spruce. Fir and juniper are down the list because they get broken easily. Klinker says people should choose trees that their neighbors don’t have. “The best urban canopy is diverse, so we don’t lose so much when one variety dies out. Right now our ash trees are threatened by the emerald ash borer. Some of them might be saved with treatment, but I saw where the borer went through Ohio and now there are dead ash trees everywhere.” Edgewater has 347 documented ash trees in the public right of way and private front yards. In Denver, one in six trees is an ash. Both cities are in the process of treating or removing ash trees in the public right of way. Edgewater is offering discounted replacement trees and Denver residents can apply for free trees to replace their ash trees in certain areas. See edgewaterco.com or beasmartash.org for details. Klinker is gearing up to expand Arbor Advisor to include tree sales, delivery and planting services. But for now, he’s happy to provide the information people need to plant more trees. “Even if I never make a dime, I love doing this,” he says.

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EDGEWATER COLLECTIVE Connecting Schools To Community Through Events n By

libraries for our area elementary schools.

Joel Newton

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ince we launched Edgewater Collective over five years ago, our goal has been to cultivate partnerships and support other nonprofits that work in our schools and community. This summer we are partnering with the City of Edgewater to make this goal even more tangible. Starting on Thursday, June 21, we will be managing the beer garden at the Edgewater Market and Music with the proceeds going to our work in the local schools and to other nonprofits in the community. Edgewater Market and Music is managed by the City of Edgewater and features local farmers, bands, crafts and much more. It runs on Thursday nights from June 21 to Sept. 6 along 25th Avenue from Ames Street to Sheridan Boulevard. The market starts at 5 p.m. and finishes at 8 p.m. each Thursday night. Thursday nights we will be serving Joyride beer and the proceeds will go to various nonprofits in the community. Our hope is that this creates a platform to talk about our schools and the great work other nonprofits are doing in Edgewater. Throughout the rest of the summer, we are also participating in other community events to spread the word about what is happening in our schools. Saturday, July 14, we are partnering with Joyride Brewing Company for their 4th Anniversary Party. Then on Aug. 25 we are organizing the Edgewater Community Festival and 5k to showcase everything Edgewater and raise money for K-3rd grade classroom book

More information about these summer events can be found at edgewatercollective.org/events.

Bike to Work Day: Edgewater 25th Avenue Station Join the Edgewater Business Association and Edgewater Collective for a bike station on Bike to Work Day coming Wednesday, June 27. Stop on by the Edgewater 25th Avenue Station at the corner of 25th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard from 6:30 to 9 a.m. We'll have coffee, drinks and other goodies for bikers. Renovating Learning Spaces at Molholm Elementary We are partnering with Molholm Elementary School, the Two Creeks Neighborhood Association and other community partners to renovate learning spaces at Molholm for teachers and students. Molholm was built in the 1950s so the building is showing its age and our goal is to assist in creating inspiring learning spaces for teachers and students. This summer we will start this process by renovating a temporary building at Molholm to be used for teacher training and collaboration. The space was formerly a classroom so we will be painting, replacing the carpet and creating various moveable learning spaces for teachers. Visit edgewatercollective.org to find out how you can be involved in this exciting project to benefit Molholm.

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Year End Recap Parkland, Florida shooting – which created reverberations across the entire nation. The impact was certainly felt here in Jeffco, Your ﬁrst year on the job... a diﬃcult position you stepped into. If you could get given our history with school violence. a “do over” on one thing, what would it be? This led to student demonstrations and On reflection, I think this has been a walkouts, where we worked to find a very successful first year and that I was balance of respecting the student’s rights a good match for Jeffco (and vice-versa). while also keeping the focus on learning and However, there were certainly lots of the students safe. difficult challenges we worked through and Later in the spring, we also had to cancel things I have learned from which will make school one day due to a staff outage for a me an even more effective superintendent protest at the capitol regarding education going forward. funding. Without doubt, this The work in Jeffco was to get was disruptive to students (and keep) the focus on teaching and families – although and learning in spite of all the we understand the reason disruptions and distractions and arguments those who that come our way. participated had when it comes The first disruption was the to school funding in Colorado, introduction of new leader into which are well known. Jeffco Public Schools. While I I also believe that I worked hard to understand the learned a great deal about context and background in Jeffco Jeffco’s culture and history in before making big moves, a new this first year. Any errors or CEO in an organization sees Jason E. Glass, Ed.D. mistakes I made this year were things differently, has different mostly associated with being new to the priorities, and makes different decisions community and this context. Going forward, than what was previously expected. I believe I will be even more effective in We also introduced a new direction and future years as I have a much stronger grasp strategic plan in October of 2017, with the of the stories and background of this place release of the Jeffco Generations document, and its schools. which outlines a multi-year vision for the Overall, I think we had a very successful future of education in Jeffco. While this year in spite of some significant challenges built on previous efforts already underway, and disruptions. I’m really happy that our it did cause us to refocus (and in some family made the decision to come to Jeffco cases redirect) resources and energy toward and I’m grateful for the opportunity to getting this plan moving. do this job every day. This is a good place The fall also brought another contentious and community with wonderful educators. board election for Jeffco. When I was hired There is much to build on here and I’m in Jeffco, I fully understood it could be a excited about taking the next steps with our four-plus-year job, or a four-month job, schools and the community. depending greatly on the outcome of that Jason E. Glass, Ed.D., is superintenelection! The community ended up backing dent and “Chief Learner” of Jeffco Public the incumbents by a wide margin, which I Schools; www.jeffcopublicschools.org. believe will gives us the stability we need in If you have a question for the superinJeffco to see the strategic plan through to tendent please submit it to Guy@Nostalgisome real progress and accomplishments. cHomes.com or call it in to 303-999-5789. Fast forwarding to February, we had the n By

Jason E. Glass, Ed.D.

ngazette.com – JUNE 18 – JULY 15, 2018 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

EDGEWATER MAYOR Civic Center Will Enhance All City Services And Programs offer to wider cluster of the community. The recreation staff is excited to be able to provide the quality recreational s excitement grows around the experiences the community deserves with imminent opening of the new Civic the addition of these new facilities. We Center, we would like to showcase some of would like to open the door for ideas for the recreational benefits this new facility future programs the community may have, will bring. It’s hard to list all of the benefits knowing that sometimes the best ideas the new Edgewater Civic Center, as many come from the future patrons. will be discovered after the For Edgewater’s city facility is opened and used by staff, the new building will bring the community. Below are some more efficiency with advantages of the more obvious recreational in staff circulation and ease of benefits that this new facility will communications using designs contribute: that enhance mobility between The more popular and most staffing offices, updated and obvious benefit is the ability to easier to access to files and provide a public fitness facility office machinery necessary to to be used by all. The fitness conduct everyday business. City center will provide the latest Manager H. J. Stalf is looking cardio and free-weight machines forward to a much more energy and equipment on the market, Laura Keegan efficient building that he and in a vibrant yet communitymany of his staff, as they worked with the oriented room. The facility will also host architects and designers, were able to bring two program rooms that will be utilized for to LEED Gold Standard. Sustainability at fitness programs along with other recreation the new center is right on target. classes and events. Jefferson County Public Library is The inclusion of the library, fitness excited to put their library in the Civic center, city council chambers and city Center. They hope to bring all the warmth administrative offices provides a space for and charm of the existing library into the community to interact in one location. the new space, while offering expanded Currently, a few of these amenities are services, including a robust collection located at off-site locations. Bringing all of of books and materials, (including them under one roof will facilitate an area Spanish); intentional spaces for kids, teens for the community to gather. and adults; a designated Family Place – the The increase of facilities such as the first in Jefferson County; access to current gymnasium and program rooms adds more and emerging technology; and dynamic space to provide additional recreational programming for all. programs across the diverse community of Contact Edgewater mayor Laura Edgewater. Youth, adult and senior sports, Keegan at 303-232-0745 (land line) or cooking, dance and fitness and other new lkeegan@edgewaterco.com. educational programs now have space to n By

Laura Keegan

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EDGEWATER CITY COUNCIL Check Out Edgewater’s Summer Offerings live music and great food! While not in Edgewater, the Colorado his summer, there is lots to do in Dragon Boat Festival is just across Sheridan Edgewater! I thought it might be at Sloan’s Lake Park on Saturday and helpful to gather information on some of Sunday July 28 and 29. Admission to this the upcoming events. Some of these are festival celebrating Asian culture is free, presented by the City of Edgewater while with food, beverage and merchandise others are events that the city available for sale. Get much supports. more information at cdbf.org. Edgewater Market and Saturday and Sunday, Music runs every Thursday Aug. 3 and 4, The Colorado evening 5 to 8 p.m. through Sept. Scottish Festival and Rocky 6. There is live music and plenty Mountain Games returns to of local vendors and merchants metro Denver at their new on 25th between Sheridan and location, Citizens Park in Ames. Check it out! Edgewater. It’s the 55th year of Wednesday, June 27, the event, and the first year in is Bike to Work Day. Way Edgewater (though we presented to Go, a program of The our own successful Highlands Denver Regional Council Steve Conklin Festival for several years). There of Governments (DRCOG), will be a healthy dose of Scottish food, coordinates this annual event. There will music and activities. The Rocky Mountain be stations throughout the metro area Games will include the caber toss (where with entertainment, snacks and more. the competitors carry and flip what look like The Edgewater Business Association and telephone poles) among other events. It’s Edgewater Collective will have a station going to be a great weekend for your entire at 25th and Sheridan from 6:30 to 9 a.m. family. with coffee, drinks and more. There’s also a Also, Edgewater residents mark your station at 2045 Sheridan at Northern Lights, calendar for the Edgewater Community serving breakfast from 6:30 to 9 a.m. More Picnic on Saturday, Aug. 25. More details Bike to Work Day information is available at will go out later in the summer. biketoworkday.us. And that’s only the beginning. The Blues and BBQ for Better Housing The Edgewater Community-wide Festival returns to Citizens Park on Garage Sale is Saturday, Sept. 29. Whether Saturday, July 21, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Allyou take advantage of the day to sell your day passes are just $10 and proceeds benefit no-longer-needed stuff or check out the Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver. other garage sales in the neighborhood, it’s Kids 12 and under are free. In addition to a fun day. the music from nine local bands (one every Enjoy all Edgewater has to offer and hour), there’s plenty of food and beverage have a great summer! available for sale. To date, they’ve raised Contact Edgewater City Council memover $212,000 to help Habitat for Humanity build and restore homes, all while enjoying ber Steve Conklin at 303-202-1505. n By

Steve Conklin

EDGEWATER AT 25TH & SHERIDAN

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – JUNE 18 – JULY 15, 2018 – ngazette.com

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olorado House and Senate races are among the decisions facing Democratic and — for the first time in state history — unaffiliated voters who cast their ballots for party candidates in the Tuesday, June 26, state primary election. Ballots began to be mailed to all registered voters on June 4 and must be returned by 7 p.m. Election Day. Unaffiliated voters who did not choose a party preference online at govotecolorado. com (but remain a registered unaffiliated voter) or in person at any voter service and polling center in the county where they are registered received both Democratic and Republican ballots, but can only vote one party’s ballot. If both are filled out and returned, neither ballot will be counted. With no Republican primary races for these offices, here is information from the Democratic candidates’ websites Neighborhood Gazette readers will choose from:

House District 24 House District 24 includes all or parts of Wheat Ridge, Edgewater, Arvada, Lakewood, Golden, Lakeside, Mountain View and unincorporated Jefferson County communities of Applewood, Fairmount and West Pleasant View. The current officeholder, Democratic state Rep. Jessie Danielson, speaker pro tempore of the House, is seeking the District 20 state Senate seat. Republican candidate Arthur Erwin, artforcolorado.com, will face the winner of this race. Monica Duran, monicaduran.com helped lead the campaign for Wheat Ridge Issue 300, a 2015 citizen-led effort against what was felt to be out-of-control development. Duran currently serves on Wheat Ridge City Council and previously served as a director or board member for several organizations. Duran noted she would stand up to the President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos agenda of privatizing education, support better teacher pay and expanding vocational and technical training programs so every student is on a path to a good-paying job. To help fight rising health care premiums, Duran wants to let Coloradans purchase health insurance through the state’s Medicaid program, if it is a cheaper public option. Duran also supports women’s rights and pro-choice legislation, along with gun control measures that keep weapons out of the hands of violent and unstable people, guns out of classrooms and military-style assault weapons off the streets. Kris Teegardin, kristeegardin.com, has helped support people with intellectual and physical disabilities and severe and persistent mental health issues. He worked nearly 10 years as a Jefferson Center for Mental Health vocational counselor and health care coordinator. Teegardin was an Edgewater City Council member, then mayor for six years. He remains active in the Metro Mayors Caucus. Teegardin would support investing in good-paying jobs like skilled trades and access to affordable higher education,

transportation and infrastructure, neighborhood and public schools, attracting good companies by preserving the environment and promoting healthy lifestyles, work to protect and expand universal health care and its programs to all Coloradans, help the state address the lack of education funding due to the Taxpayers Bill of Rights, support teachers and help level the playing field for struggling students. He also vowed to fight to preserve public lands and land, air and water quality through more renewable energy and clean energy jobs, along with allocating more funds for oversight and inspections of natural gas lines and hydraulic fracturing sites to ensure citizen and worker safety.

Senate District 34 Senate District 34 includes parts or all of Denver, Sloan’s Lake and the West Colfax corridor between Sheridan and Federal boulevards. The seat is currently held by Democratic state Sen. Lucia Guzman, the assistant minority leader. State senators can serve two consecutive four-year terms and Guzman cannot seek re-election. The primary winner will face Republican candidate Gordon Alley, pastorgordonforcolorado.com, in the November general election. Julie Gonzales, julieforcolorado.com, is the policy director for the Meyer Law Office in Denver, which specializes in immigration law. In 2005, she helped organize a coalition of low-income families, unions, community organizations and environmental activists to pass an agreement at the Gates Rubber Factory redevelopment that directed tax dollars be spent on affordable housing, a clean environment and jobs that paid a living wage. In 2006, Gonzales organized students at three high schools to ensure Denver Public Schools offered a college-preparatory education to all students and help plug the school-to-jail pipeline. In 2009, she cofounded the Colorado Latino Forum, a statewide grassroots organization to build the economic, educational and political power of Latinos across Colorado, and in 2013 was elected board chair. Gonzales helped draft the ASSET bill that allowed undocumented Colorado students to attend college at in-state tuition rates and created immigrant drivers’ licenses. In 2017, Gonzales helped pass legislation to ensure no Denver resources were spent on immigration enforcement. If elected, Gonzales vowed to fight for affordable homes, high-quality education, jobs that pay a living wage, a clean environment, universal health care and civil rights. Alan Kennedy-Shaffer, kennedyshaffer. com, a civil rights lawyer, noted he represented clients who successfully challenged President Donald Trump’s travel ban and women’s access to birth control. Currently a captain and Judge Advocate General in the Colorado Army National Guard, a criminal justice lecturer and Ph.D. student at the University of ColoradoDenver, Kennedy-Shaffer vowed to fight for progressive values and issues, such as ending climate change, supporting Continued on page 14

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Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It’s Bike to Work We Go n By

J. Patrick O’Leary

usinesses, cities and citizen groups in Sloan’s Lake, Lakewood, Edgewater and Wheat Ridge will host breakfast stations, after-work parties, free snacks and beverages and help from bike techs and Bike to Work Day, Wednesday, June 27. The annual Denver Regional Council of Government event is a grassroots effort by cities, counties, transportation planners, community organizations and others in the metro area to educate commuters about the benefits of using two wheels to get to work. Cyclists can pick up free water, refreshments and food on the way into and back from work at hundreds of temporary stations throughout the Denver metro area, including two in Edgewater, one along the W Line in Lakewood, two in Sloan’s Lake and three in Wheat Ridge. Participants who register online have a chance at winning prizes, as well. Edgewater Business Association and Edgewater Collective are teaming up to provide a bike tech, coffee, drinks and other goodies for bikers riding to work at The Edgewater 25th Avenue Station (25th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard), from 6 to 9 a.m. “This is the second year that we have worked with local businesses to run the station at 25th and Sheridan,” said Edgewater Collective Executive Director Joel Newton. The City of Edgewater ran the station the previous six years. “Our goal in organizing a station at the entrance to Edgewater is to encourage active living and biking to work,” he said. “We also love to showcase our great small businesses here in Edgewater.” Also in Edgewater, Northern Lights Cannabis Company and Rupert’s on the

Edge, on northwest corner of 20th and Sheridan (2045 Sheridan), are offering breakfast, drinks and coffee from 6:30 to 9 a.m. It’s Northern Lights’ and Ruperts’ fourth year of sponsoring a station. This year they are also giving away some fun items to make your commute “roll” along. Just across Sheridan in Sloan’s Lake, Native Roots Foundation is also hosting a breakfast station from 6:30 to 9 a.m. On the W Line path at Mountair Park (West 13th Avenue at Depew Street), the City of Lakewood will provide breakfast burritos from Santiago’s Mexican Restaurant, breads and pastries from Great Harvest Bread Co., hot coffee from Village Roaster Coffee, KIND granola bars and fruit from 6:30 to 9 a.m. For the afternoon commute, Lakewood is hosting an after-work station for food, fun and festivities in Belmar Plaza. Also on the return route, AFC Urgent Care Highlands is staging its first Bike to Work Day Station on the north side of Sloan's Lake near West 26th Avenue. From 3:30 to 6 p.m., AFC will be offering water, bandages, lip balms, hand sanitizers and more. They’ll also have a first aid kit on site. Farther north near the Clear Creek Greenway, a mid-day Laradon’s Bike Party takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Prospect Park Pavilion, 11300 W. 44th Ave., Wheat Ridge, featuring a bike tech, snacks, water, yard games and music. In its event listing, Laradon said is was planning to team up with Trader Joe’s to provide water and snacks, and have a few recumbent bikes on hand to try out. They’ve also invited a bike mechanic and food trucks, but at press were awaiting confirmation. Not to be outdone, Wheat Ridge will be the site of two Star Wars-themed Bike to Work Day stations, sponsored by the Wheat Ridge Active Transportation Advisory Team

‘AWAKEN WITH THE FORCE!’ WITH DARTH VADER – a June 27 Bike to Work Day breakfast event – will take place 6 to 9 a.m. at “The Death Star” (aka the Dairy Queen), 6790 W. 38th Ave., off the bike lane at Pierce Street, Wheat Ridge. PHOTO COURTESY WR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY TEAM [ATAT]

(ATATs) Right Coast Pizza, Dairy Queen, Jefferson County Public Health, and others. “Awaken With The Force!” with Darth Vader will take place 6 to 9 a.m. at “The Death Star” (aka the Dairy Queen), 6790 W. 38th Ave., off the bike lane at Pierce Street. Starting at 6 a.m. for early risers, the station features coffee, orange juice, breakfast burritos (plus a gluten-free) option, fruit and snack bars. “We promise nourishment, lots of Star Wars-themed fun and the best selfie you'll take all morning,” according to the event listing. On the way home, the fourth annual Pedal to Patio: Stars Wars, Beer & Pizza bike

party takes place at the Right Coast Pizza pizzeria, 7100 W. 38th Ave., 4 to 7 p.m. The bike party offers free locally crafted beer, fresh-from the oven pizza, tunes, prizes and “a completely voluntary tandem ride with your favorite Sith Lord.” Check the event website for last-minute changes to stations and locations; there was to be a breakfast station at 26th and Kipling, the north edge of Crown Hill Park, but the listing had disappeared from the map as the Neighborhood Gazette went to press. To register, visit http://biketoworkday. us. Station maps and listings, information on bicycle safety and commuting, and other details are also available online.

Our Garden Community For information on advertising in this section, please call Tim Berland, 303-995-2806, tim@ngazette.com Providing a selection of locally grown perennials, annuals, trees and shrubs, from soil to harvest we’re here to help. When the season is right, shop our Farmers Market with fresh fruit and produce from around Colorado.

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Festivals Continued from page 1

49th annual festival in 2018, Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival is one of the longest running festivals in Colorado. It has a reputation that attracts people from all over the state. The Festival will be filled with food, music, culture and fun for people of all ages! The events are held at Anderson Park, located at 4355 Field St., Aug. 10 through 12. The parade takes place between Ames and Upham streets on West 38th Avenue on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon. The parade is preceded at 7 a.m. by a pancake breakfast at the Grange Hall. Events include: • On Sunday, a car show will be in the middle of things and will include the 1957 Chevy originally bought by the grandfather of Festival Chairman, Joe DeMott; • The Zoppe Circus, a favorite among Festival participants, is one of the few oldfashion, family-run, classic one-ring touring circus left in the United States; • The Vendor fair will have food, art and specialties for people of all ages; • Music events will include a KISS tribute band among 11 other bands representing sounds from “turbo-charged” Celtic music to Blues Brothers Chicago-type blues; • Fireworks will be held on Friday and Saturday night at 9:15 p.m. at the baseball field; and • The Annual Art League Member show will give you a chance to view and purchase fine art works from over two dozen local artists. The parade theme this year is “Deep Roots.” The Parade Committee is calling local artists to submit an original design that embodies the history of Wheat Ridge. These will be put on commemorative plates that will be given to parade winners. Festival admission is free, but the circus admission is $18 general, $23 for VIP seats and children under two are free. The Spaghetti Dinner is served in its own tent from 4 to 8 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday; cost is $8 for adults, $5 for kids under 12. The Chili Cookoff will be on Aug. 11 with a $5 suggested donation for public tasting. The Beer Garden and Food Court will be open Friday from 4 to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival For the 18th year, the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival (CDBF) celebrates the culture, contributions, and accomplishments of Colorado’s Asian Pacific American communities. Dragon boat racing is an ancient sport, with its origins in China over 2,000 years ago. It was a unique competitive sport to be hosted here 18 years ago. Now, it is the largest dragon boat festival in the country with 52 teams competing. The number of teams has steadily increased every year from the original 16 teams.

The festival features more than 20 food vendors in two Taste of Asia Food Courts, a huge Asian Marketplace of gifts, artisans and organizations, Dragonland interactive children’s area, and five stages that feature traditional Asian to contemporary Asian American culture. The Gateway to Asia provides quieter dances or musical sets, as well as demonstrations ranging from Japanese flower arranging to Chinese calligraphy to Thai fruit carving. This year’s festival will have, as usual, free admission. Events happen on July 28 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and July 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It features the following activities: • The Opening Ceremony starts at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 29, with a cultural spectacle, featuring Chinese Buddhist monks chanting and blessing the festival and all the competitors, then performing a beautiful, spiritual, traditional Eye Dotting Ceremony with invited dignitaries to awaken the spirit of the dragons within the race boats. • At 10 a.m. on Sunday, there will be a Japanese Obon Dance at the Main Stage. As usual, the public will be invited to join in the fun. • The Colorado Dragon Boat race is a unique summertime competition that over 50 teams now look forward to every year. • This year, Noble Energy will sponsor a scavenger hunt to help celebrate the diverse Asian communities in the Denver metro area. • Since 2015, CDBF has partnered with Colorado Anime Fest, to bring classic and new anime favorites to the festival. • On both Saturday and Sunday, there will be Spicy Ramen Eating contests, where you can compete against other festival attendees to see who can finish a bowl of spicy ramen. • Shopping in the CDBF Marketplace every year is like shopping at a dream bazaar with merchants from every corner of Asia and the Pacific. • One of the ongoing highlights of each year’s Colorado Dragon Boat Festival has been the opportunity to eat your way across Asia and the Pacific Islands — bite by bite, and without leaving Denver. • The festival’s five Performing Arts Stages showcase both traditional Asian and contemporary Asian American talent from within our communities.

Colorado Scottish Festival The St. Andrew Society of Colorado will hold its 55th annual Colorado Scottish Festival in Edgewater’s Citizens Park (on Benton Street between 22nd and 24th avenues), Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 4 and 5. The event returns to the Denver metro area this year; the 2017 festival was held in Snowmass Village. (It’s not to be confused with the Celtic Harvest Festival, which was cancelled in 2017 after a seven-year run in Edgewater.) The Society promises to provide all the classic elements of a world class Scottish Festival and Highland Games: Scottish heavy athletics caber tossing (the “telephone

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pole” event), Scottish Highland dancers, Scottish country dancing, the pipe bands from around the state, whisky tastings, Clan Village, Colorado’s own Renaissance Scots, living history, Scottish food, British Dogs, British Cars and Parade of Clans. For more information, visit www. scottishgames.org, Facebook at ColoradoScottishFestival or Twitter at @ ColoradoNessie.

Jeffco Fair & Festival There is fun coming at the Jeffco Fair & Festival, happening Aug. 10 through 12 at Jeffco Fairgrounds. Lasting three days, it is Jeffco’s biggest celebration of the summer. The Fair and Festival combines the entertainment and activities of a Festival, while using a Fair approach to support and showcase 4-H, youth programs, equine, livestock and agricultural elements that have long been a part of Jefferson County. Events are numerous at the Fair and Festival, so only major activities are listed below: • 4-H members Horse Show and Trail Classes and Fashion Review; • 4-H animal viewing for swine, rabbits, sheep, goats, poultry, steers, horses, dogs, llamas and alpacas; • All About Science, the perfect blend of education and entertainment, featuring audience participation and a bunch of surprises; • Petting Farm, Pony rides, Barrel Train, and Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull; • Milestone Eight-VIP Wrestling Event and Lucha Libre Pro Wrestling Event; • CPRA Rodeo, Ranch Rodeo and Cowboy Church; • Inventor Fair, Red Rocks Community College’s interactive science exhibits, 3D printing, Robotic Escape Maze, and Kids Wind Tunnel Design Challenge; • Pie Eating Contest presented by 4-H members and open to everyone; • Mutton Bustin’ for children ages 4-7 and under 60 pounds who will ride sheep out a chute and into the arena; • Canine Stars- Stunt Dog Shows; • Daily Flag Retreat Ceremonies; • Home Brewing Competition; • Music events; • Carnival games and rides. The cost is $5 for those ages 13 and up, kids under 12 are free. Both wrestling events, the CPRA Rodeo and the Ranch Rodeo all have additional costs. Most tickets to these events include same-day general admission for the Fair and Festival. Carnival rides, one-day wristbands will be available for $30. These tickets can be bought soon at www.celebratejeffco.com/.

West Colfax MuralFest The fourth annual West Colfax MuralFest will be on Saturday, Aug. 11, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., held in the heart of 40 West Arts District at Lamar Station Plaza, 6501 W. Colfax Ave. The plaza is home to two art galleries, an award-winning brewery and Casa Bonita. This free arts festival features juried artists who create an outdoor gallery of murals. These are then celebrated in a one-day festival with art, music, food and creative activities, including: • Music by Pandas and People, Graham Good and the Painters, Maya Bennett, plus an additional band TBD. • Interactive Kids Tent with street art station, mini-mural, and take-away printing • Food Trucks, with Burgerchef, Deer Creek Pizza, Steady Smoking BBQ, WongWeyVeg, Rocky Mountain Snowflakes and Tacos El Huequito. • Beer Garden • Art exhibits.

Blues & BBQ The 20th Annual Blues & BBQ is back. On July 21, people from throughout the Denver metro area will gather at Citizens Park in Edgewater to enjoy the best local music, craft beer and local food and to raise money for Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver. With nine awesome local bands, local restaurants and local breweries, the festival builds community through music!

The event goes from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 21. Parking is available in the old King Soopers parking lot at West 20th Avenue and Depew Street. General admission is $10 for adults, kids 12 and under are free. Tickets do not include food, which is purchased from individual food vendors. The band line up includes The Symbols, The Dale Cisek Band, Teledonna, My Blue Sky, Wild Love Tigress, Ryan Chrys and the Roughcuts, Ricky Earle Band featuring Cherise, Eef and the Blues Express, and The Duke Street Kings.

Jamming on the Jetty Jamming on the Jetty will again offer up live music on the Sloan’s Lake jetty to benefit local charities, Saturday, July 7, starting at 3 p.m. It’s the fourth incarnation of the festival, which began three years ago. This year’s bands will be Sloan’s Lake

neighborhood favorite Dyrty Byrds and Coal Town Reunion, according to Mayo Schiavone, who is helping to organize the event. The emcee will be Brad Laurvick of Highlands United Methodist Church, with special guests Denver councilmen Rafael Espinoza and Paul Lopez. “Last year we had over 500 local attendees and this year the goal is 750 plus,” said Schiavone. New this year are vendors selling merchandise, food and drink. Geared toward all ages, there will be water sports, games for children and free giveaways. Attendees are invited to bring a picnic basket, umbrellas and blankets. Bienvenidos Food Bank is the beneficiary of this year’s event, receiving all proceeds raised by sponsorships. Sponsorship and other details can be found at the JammingontheJetty.com website, or check out its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/jammingonthejetty.

Performances In The Park Bring your lawn chairs or blankets. Make it a picnic. Wheat Ridge provides free outdoor, concerts and performances on Wednesdays for the whole summer. These events are very family friendly. Come to Anderson Park, at 4355 Field St., for Children’s Shows at 10 a.m. Then bring back the whole family at 6:30 p.m. for the free concerts, featuring: • June 20, Magic Rob Ryan, followed by Chrys & the Rough Cuts; • June 27, Eric West, Music Phat Daddy; • July 4, Bradley Weaver, Papa Juke Band; • July 11, Beth Epley, Rheinlanders; • July 18, Kusogea Nobe Drum Ensemble, Chico’s Malos Salsa Band; • July 25, Puppets & Things on Strings, Michael Friedman Band; and • Aug 1, Ann Lincoln, Magic Hot Tomatoes.

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NEIGHBORHOOD THEATER

40 WEST ARTS

Summer Screenings, Theatrical Offerings In The Neighborhood

Summer Events In The 40West Arts District

n By

Elisabeth Monaghan

n By

roviding a great lineup of films, the Alamo Drafthouse Denver also is a great place to escape from what is likely to be a hot summer. Here are a few of the notable screenings playing over the next few weeks: “The Jerk,” starring Steve Martin (June 19, 7 p.m.), “Coming to America,” starring Eddie Murray and Arsenio Hall (June 19, 7:30 p.m.), “The Rape of Recy Taylor,” a 2017 film that exposes a legacy of physical abuse of black women and reveals Rosa Parks’ intimate role in Recy Taylor’s story (June 20, 7:30) and “Fist City: Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41” (June 26, 8 p.m.). The Alamo Drafthouse Denver will help KGNU celebrate 40 years of independent community radio with a screening of “Pirate Radio.” The 2009 film, which originally was titled “The Boat That Rocked,” will be preceded by a short documentary about the station (June 30, 8 p.m.). All proceeds from the screening benefit KGNU. Among the films playing in July are “Empire of the Dark,” which the Alamo Drafthouse describes as “the greatest achievement that a middle-aged dad has ever achieved” (July 10, 9 p.m.) and “Wayne’s World” with a special appearance by the film’s director Penelope Spheeris (July 28, 9 p.m.). For details on these and other special screenings or to see what box office hits are playing at the Alamo Drafthouse, visit https://drafthouse.com/denver/theater/ sloans-lake.

“The Arsonists” Premiering At Benchmark Theatre The Benchmark Theatre presents the regional premier of “The Arsonists,”

Liz Black

‘The Arsonists’ Opens June 22 Set deep in a Florida swamp, “The Arsonists” is a father-daughter tale of grief, loss and redemption, playing at the Benchmark Theatre, 1560 Teller St., Lakewood, June 22 through July 21. Inspired by the Greek tragedy “Electra,” this play with music is a contemporary American myth that explores the relationship between parent and child in that small space between death and life, the last breath before the awakening.

THE ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE DENVER will help KGNU celebrate 40 years of independent community radio with a screening of “Pirate Radio.” which will run from June 22 through July 21. According Deb Miller with DC Metro Theatre Arts, “The Arsonists” is a fatherdaughter tale of grief, loss and redemption. Inspired by the Greek tragedy “Electra,” this play with music is a contemporary American myth that explores the relationship between parent and child in that small space between death and life, the last breath before the awakening. For information or tickets, visit www. benchmarktheatre.com.

Rodents’ Comedy For A Cause On July 7 The Rodents of Unusual Size has scheduled its monthly Comedy for a Cause show for July 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Grange in Wheat Ridge, 3850 High Court. The show is free, a $5 donation is suggested. (Families with three or more pay only $15 total.) At press, the benefitting organization is to be announced, so check their website for updates www.coloradoimprov.com.

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City of Lakewood’s July 4 Big Boom Bash Big Boom Bash by Lakewood, a new Fourth of July celebration hosted by the City of Lakewood, will take place on Wednesday, July 4, rain or shine, at Jeffco Stadium, 500 Kipling St. Admission is free for this event, which kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and culminates with a spectacular 20-minute fireworks display at dark, approximately 9:15 p.m. The event includes children’s activities, a community art project, vendor booths and local food trucks. Visit www.lakewood.org/bigboombash/ for details.

Glass Artists of Colorado Opening Reception, July 6 40 West Arts partners with the Glass Artists of Colorado for an opening reception that will feature glass work in multiple styles and forms, Friday, July 6, 5 to 8 p.m., at 40 West Gallery, 1560 Teller St., Lakewood. Artists will also showcase their art-making process during multiple live demos in the space outside the gallery. Join us for this unique exhibit in conjunction with a 40 West Arts First Friday. Beer, wine and light bites are available and all district galleries and creative businesses will be open to the public. More information can be found at www.40westarts.org/Events.

Kids Yoga Teacher Training, July 12-15 Container Collective Yoga, 1492 Ammons St., Lakewood, will in July offer Kids Yoga Teacher Training, a 35-hour training program that is an extraordinary opportunity for you to be someone who brings a sense of play and full self-expression to children through yoga, meditation and inquiry. In this three-and-a-half-day

training, held July 12 through 15, you will be immersed in play and exploration in order to transform the lives of kids in your classroom, studio, community or around the world. You do not need to be a teacher or even work with kids yet to participate in this program. For more information, visit www. cc360denver.com/.

40 West Arts Members Showcase Opening Reception, Aug. 3 40 West Gallery, 1560 Teller St., Lakewood, welcomes the public to an opening reception for its Members Showcase, which will feature the works of over 20 artist members in multiple styles and mediums. This reception, in conjunction with the Aug. 3 40 West Arts First Friday, from 5 to 8 p.m., is an opportunity to see and buy the work of talented local artisans and makers. Beer, wine and light bites are available and all district galleries and creative businesses will be open to the public. Visit www.40westarts.org/Events#!/ for details.

True Art WestFest, Aug. 4 Reed Art & Imaging’s first annual TrueArt West Fest 2018 is set for Aug. 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is an art festival designed to support artists and the growing 40 West Arts District in a fun and affordable art festival designed to introduce artists to the community and make new friends. Located at 8000 W. Colfax, Lakewood, Reed Art is excited to be an integral part of this hive of creativity. Enjoy multiple artisan vendors, music food and more at this fun summer event. For more information, visit www.reedphoto.com/trueart-west-fest-2018/.

West Colfax MuralFest, Aug. 11 Join 40 WestArts for the 4th annual West Colfax MuralFest on Saturday, Aug. 11, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.! Held in the heart of 40 West Arts District at Lamar Station Plaza (home of Casa Bonita) this festival is a celebration of all things art, creativity and West Colfax. Enjoy live music including local favorites Pandas & People, watch murals painted on-site, see artisan demos and shop local artists and makers. We’ll also have a beer garden, food trucks, kids and family activities tent, art trolley tour and much more. This event is not to be missed! Visit www.westcolfaxmuralfest.org for more information.

ngazette.com – JUNE 18 – JULY 15, 2018 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

NEIGHBORHOOD ARTS

GALLERY SPOTLIGHT

Dark Florida Swamps, Family Fun, And Exquisite Glass n By

Nancy Hahn

n June 22 a new play with music premiers at Benchmark Theater, 1560 Teller St. The play, “The Arsonists,” was written by Jaqueline Goldfinger and based on “Electra,” a Greek tragedy. The arsonists, a father and daughter team, are played by Michael Morgan and Rebakah Goldberg. This Southern Gothic takes place in the dim and dangerous Florida swamps. After escaping to the Everglades, the characters battle the elements, confront their relationship with each other and their sense of alienation from others. Despite the darkness and constant anxiety, the characters do come to recognize their unbreakable bond as they travel to reach redemption. For additional information or tickets, visit http://www.benchmarktheatre.com/ benchmarkhome/ The July Fourth Big Boom Bash is a new family event hosted by the City of Lakewood. This free and fantastic Fourth of July celebration for the whole family begins at 5:30 p.m. at Jeffco Stadium, 500 Kipling St. This event is not just a fireworks show, not even close. There will be activities for children, including lawn games. A community art project adds creative fun for everyone. Local food trucks will have a variety of food and beverages to buy. A beer garden with local Lakewood beer and hard cider adds to the event. There will be music and prizes from MIX 100 and vendors of all sorts. At 7 p.m., there will be a community reading of the Declaration of Independence. Then the fields will open, so everyone

can find seating. The fireworks show accompanied by music will begin at dark. Bags will be checked at entry. No weapons, alcohol, drugs, glass containers, drones, tents, grills, laser pointers, skateboards, roller blades, wheeled shoes, pets or fireworks are permitted. Empty water bottles are permitted and there is a refill station inside. Food, blankets, folding chairs, small bags, purses, factory-sealed non-alcoholic drinks, and small soft-sided coolers are permitted. On July 6, the Glass Artists of Colorado’s exhibit opens at 40 West Arts, 1560 Teller St. When the Glass Artists Fellowship began in 1979, most of the artists worked in stained glass. Now the group has grown to include artists who work with glass in an amazing array of ways. Etched glass, blown glass, stained glass, functional pieces, and decorative pieces are created by members of the group. Thirty members of the group’s fellowship program will have their unique glass work in the exhibit. The First Friday opening reception begins at 5 p.m. Stop by to enjoy the exhibit and live demonstrations, along with wine, beer and light bites. Most galleries and locations are open 5:30 to 8 p.m. on First Friday. Take time to visit throughout the Art District. You are sure to discover something unique, surprising, and fabulous.

Gazette NEIGHBORHOOD

Justin T. Newby, Sr., is in the spotlight at the Gallery of Everything. Loaded with details, imaginative stories, and rich colors, it’s no surprise that Newby admires the work of artists like Salvadore Dali, Frida Kahlo, and Vincent Van Gogh. Newby’s dreams inspire the majority of his art. Prefering to work in sunlight, Newby quits painting at sunset. His themes explore archetypes of good vs evil, and light vs darkness. He will remain in the spotlight through July. The Gallery of Everything is home to 48 artists and is co-located with Red Herring Art Supply, 6719 W. Colfax Ave., Open Wednesday throught Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call 720-833-8132 for more information.

REACH UP TO 25,000 READERS MONTHLY! Call Tim Berland 303-995-2806tim@ngazette.com

West Colfax MuralFest

Join us for the 4th annual West Colfax MuralFest on Saturday, August 11th, 2018 from 11am-6pm West Colfax MuralFest is a vibrant arts festival held in 40 West Arts District each year, designed to celebrate creativity and the character of historic West Colfax. This festival features juried artists from across the country who create an outdoor art gallery of murals culminating in a one-day celebration of art, music, food, and creative activities for the whole family. Organized by the West Colfax Community Association, in association with 40 West Arts and Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, this event highlights and embraces the artistry of the Lakewood West Colfax corridor.

Red Herring Art Supply

westcolfax.org

40westarts.org

EDGE Gallery

7001 W. Colfax • 303-477-7173 www.edgeart.org

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6719 W. Colfax Ave. • 720-883-8132 (next door to Casa Bonita) • Open Thu-Sun 11-7

6719 W. Colfax Avenue next to Casa Bonita, in the Gallery of Everything

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NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – JUNE 18 – JULY 15, 2018 – ngazette.com

WEST METRO FIRE ARM Car Opens New Era Of Patient Care n By

Ronda Scholting

est Metro Fire Rescue has a new type of emergency medical care, focused on treating patients at home and cutting back on unnecessary trips to the emergency room. Known as an Advanced Resource Medic – or ARM car – the specially equipped ambulance is designed like mobile urgent care, with medical personnel on board, able to diagnose and treat a variety of illnesses and injuries. “This is a big step forward for us in patient care and gives us an opportunity to better serve our district,” said Fire Chief Don Lombardi, West Metro Fire Rescue. “Before the ARM car, our only option was to transport patients to the emergency room. Now, if their symptoms make it possible – we’ll be able to keep them at home or at work and treat them there.” The ARM car is a partnership between West Metro and DispatchHealth. A West Metro advanced practice paramedic, and a DispatchHealth nurse practitioner or physician assistant will staff the car. The car itself is equipped with a certified laboratory and medical supplies and the crew will be able to treat a variety of ailments, including the flu, minor sprains and fractures, skin infections, dehydration, joint or back pain and more. They can also administer IV fluids, prescribe medications, and perform blood tests and rapid infectious disease tests and suture cuts. “By partnering with West Metro Fire Rescue, we are able to deliver excellent medical care at a far lower cost than an emergency room,” said Dr. Mark Prather, DispatchHealth co-founder and CEO. “So not only is our ondemand urgent care delivery model great for the patient, but it also takes some of the burden off overwhelmed ER doctors and nurses.” Treatment through the ARM car can be

WEST METRO FIRE RESCUE’S ADVANCED RESOURCE MEDIC (ARM) car is staffed with medical personnel who are able to diagnose and treat a variety of illnesses and injuries. PHOTO BY WEST METRO FIRE RESCUE

billed to most major insurance companies. If patients are uninsured, they’ll be charged a flat fee of $275, which includes medications, procedures and lab tests. The ARM car can be assigned to a case following an initial 911 emergency call and after the responding West Metro crews determine whether the patient’s symptoms and situation fit the ARM car profile. West Metro Fire Rescue answers more than 34,000 calls a year. In 2017, 70 percent of the calls were for emergency medical services and most resulted in a transport to the hospital. On average, treatment at an emergency room in the United States costs around $2,000. “With the rising cost of healthcare, we believe the ARM car can really make a difference in lives of the patients we treat,” said Lombardi. Ronda Scholting is the Communications/Media Relations Specialist for West Metro Fire Rescue; contact her at rscholting@westmetrofire.org or 303-941-8317.

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SARAH SMILE STANDS UNDER THE CONVEYOR BELT in the Little Man Creamery, under construction. PHOTO BY LAURIE DUNKLEE

New West Colfax Creamery: A Cool Place With A Cool Mission n By

Laurie Dunklee

t’s hard to miss Little Man Ice Cream’s giant milk can in Lower Highlands (LoHi), especially in the summertime when a line of people waiting for scoops extends around the block. Owner Paul Tamburello is hoping his new Little Man Creamery on West Colfax will attract similar crowds — for business reasons, of course, but also because selling more ice cream means he can help more food-challenged people around the world. Little Man’s Scoop for Scoop program donates a scoop of rice or beans, for every scoop of ice cream sold, to food-challenged communities in many countries. “We focus on Guatemala, Cambodia and Haiti mostly,” said Tamburello. “We hope to do more in Peru and Uganda.” The new Little Man Creamery, on Colfax and Tennyson, will be Little Man’s production facility as well as a new place for the neighborhood to gather. “The design is the inside of an ice cream spinner,” said Sarah Smile, administrative assistant for Little Man. “Everything is curved and there are slanted lines to make you feel like you are spinning around. There will be a slide for the kids and adults.” She said the creamery will have a factory vibe, with visible wires and beams. “A conveyor belt will run from the customer counter back to the kitchen, to send empty buckets back and receive full ones.” The 6,300-square-foot space is a late 1940s commercial building that was three separate shotgun units, says Tamburello. “‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’ was my favorite movie growing up, so that reflects in our stores,” said Tamburello, regarding the whimsical renovation. “Retail is changing, and retailers need to step up their game and provide experiences for people. I want people to walk in and say, ‘Oh my gosh,’ and have an amazing fun experience.” The 2,000-square-foot kitchen will produce 10 times the amount of ice cream that’s currently made in the LoHi Victorian that also houses Little Man’s offices. “Our kitchen is tiny, and it’s impossible to keep up with demand,” said Smile. She estimates that the 300 gallons per day produced now will become more like 3,000 gallons — to both sell and generate more donated food for hungry people. Scoop for Scoop began in 2008 to help communities in need. To date, Little Man has delivered approximately 2.5 million scoops to hungry people in nine countries, through one-time missions following disasters and long-term commitments to build up food resiliency. Little Man employees volunteer their time to deliver the food overseas, or Little Man partners with reputable organizations already engaged on the ground. All goods are purchased in local markets. Tamburello was inspired to start the

program after he volunteered with several international medical relief organizations. “Seeing how the people lived provided my impetus to help with nutrition. Scoop for Scoop is not a marketing tool; we don’t talk about it a lot, we just do it.” “Just doing it” came from his parents, who modeled a philanthropic lifestyle, Tamburello said. “My parents were committed to helping others. My mother said that helping is part of who you should be, whether you’re religious or not.” Tamburello said Little Man is named for his father, who was small in stature but had a big heart. “He was one of 12 children and he helped support the family once he finished third grade, working alongside his father in the ash pit. He carried the idea of helping people throughout his life.” Tamburello said his greatest reward is seeing the impact of the program on his young employees. “When our young ‘scoopers’ go on a mission trip, I see them get engaged and excited. Some of them have become Peace Corps volunteers. They learn that philanthropy isn’t what we do when we’re rich; it’s what we do whether we make $10 an hour or much more than that.” Smile, a former “scooper,” looks forward to engaging the West Colfax community at the new creamery. “The kitchen is enclosed in glass, like a microbrewery, where people can watch the process of making ice cream. The spinners will be hung where people can watch us pour in the mixings. When the ice cream is done it goes on a conveyor belt to the freezer.” As at the LoHi location, the creamery will host dances and other activities. A stage in the front window will showcase swing dances led by live bands. Next year the creamery will install glass garage doors on the north side, looking out onto a patio. Tamburello hopes for a revitalization of West Colfax as a destination, much as parts of East Colfax have become. Challenges include the lack of parking and pedestrianfriendliness. “CDOT (the Colorado Division of Transportation) and the city need to allow parking on West Colfax,” Tamburello said. “On East Colfax that was an impetus. Parking helps make it a destination because it slows traffic and provides a buffer between the sidewalk and the cars, making it more pedestrian-friendly.” In addition to the creamery, slated to open in mid-July, Little Man is rolling out four other locations, including Sweet Cooie’s in Congress Park, a ‘50s-era soda shop that opened in February 2017. Slated for completion in 2018 and 2019 are Constellation in Stapleton, featuring a 70-foot replica wing from a Lockheed Constellation airplane; Churn Ice Cream in Fort Collins, a 22-foot lumber churn bucket; and an as-yet-unnamed store in Park Hill.

ngazette.com – JUNE 18 – JULY 15, 2018 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

Prairie Dogs – Necessary, Not A Nuisance n By

Sally Griﬃn

rairie Dogs are cute little fuzzy creatures with a strong sense of family and one of the most sophisticated language systems among wild creatures. But the numbers of these creatures have been decimated throughout their range by almost 95 percent. Habitat loss, bulldozing, poisonings and recreational shootings have contributed greatly to this loss. State officials and environmentalists have realized that the loss of these creatures has great impact among other animals. Black-footed ferrets are in danger of extinction because prairie dogs are their only food source. Prairie dogs are a key species to nine other species, such as hawks, owls, foxes, ferrets and many others who depend on prairie dogs for food. We are in the process of trying to save these fuzzy, vocal rodents because they are food — in fact, the only food for some species, like the ferret. However, it seems we that are coming to realize that in addition to providing food and shelter to other animals, their burrows actually enrich the soil and improve plant growth because water can flow underground. Prairie dogs are one animal that will locate their home in overgrazed areas so that they can see predators before they get too near. Prairie dogs live in underground burrows that have many tunnels, chambers and, occasionally, dams to control water. Burrows have defined nurseries, sleeping quarters and toilets. They also provide listening posts where sentinels can keep tabs of predators outside and warn other members of the prairie dog town. They spend a lot of time building and rebuilding their homes. Other animals, such as burrowing owls and snakes, are glad to take advantage of the prairie dogs’ work. Although prairie dogs live in large, close-knit communities, they won’t hug

and kiss just anybody. Prairie dogs do interact through oral contact or “kissing” and by grooming each other. But this kind of interaction is limited to family groups. They play and chase each other and get into family spats. Family groups are the most basic units of prairie dog society. Being highly social, these family groups then collect together into colonies or “towns.” These towns can span hundreds of acres and may contain 15 to 26 family groups. In addition to hugging and kissing, prairie dogs have developed some of the most sophisticated language skills among wild animals. Con Slobodchikoff, an animal behaviorist from Northern Arizona University, discovered that their communication system is surprisingly advanced. Not only do they have different warning calls depending on the type of predator – coyote, dog, human, hawk – they also construct sentences to describe what a particular predator looks like. By showing captive prairie dogs several simple silhouetted shapes such as triangles, circles and squares, Slobodchikoff also determined that they can come up with new calls to communicate to each other about things they’ve never seen before. This, he maintains, is evidence that these animals have a highly developed language that they can use to name any potential threat. And they have different responses to different alarm calls. For instance, hawk alarms mean everybody dive into your burrow immediately. Coyote alarms indicate the need for observation, then further alarm calls will warn everyone as to exactly what the coyote is doing. Prairie dogs also have a group communication signal, the meaning of which nobody is exactly sure. This has been mostly observed among black-tailed prairie dogs. It is the territorial call or “jump-yip” display. The prairie dog will abruptly raise its chest

up, throw its forefeet into the air and land on its butt while making a high-pitched “weeoo” sound. A jump-yip from one prairie dog will usually cause others to do the same. Just like a wave at a football game, jumpyips can travel through a whole colony. It’s like prairie dog-popcorn. Some experts think this may be an “all clear” signal to let a colony know that a predator has moved on. Other experts think it is a way to make sure that other dogs are paying attention to their surroundings. Still others think it is a way to have fun together. Or it could have to do with disputes over territory. It could also be a way to get others to provide up-todate information on predators, so the one who started the jump-yip can spend more time hunting for food. No one is exactly sure why there are jump-yips, but this activity is fascinating to researchers and will certainly be a central part of future studies. Here are some other facts about their surprisingly complex world: • Their entire mating session is just one-hour long. They mate just once in early winter for only one hour. They have litters of three to eight pups, of which only about half survive their first year. They live in tight-knit family groups called coteries. These coteries have one or two males, several females and the females’ new pups. Males may move around from coterie to coterie, but females stick together for life. • They are cousins of the squirrels in your back yard. Other close relatives are groundhogs, chipmunks, marmots and woodchucks. • They are not a passive form of food. They can run up to 35 mph. They can be fast, skilled fighters with sharp claws and teeth. It takes a while for black-footed ferrets to learn how to catch them and to learn that they will fight back. • They are very susceptible to bubonic plague, acquired from infected fleas (another species relying on prairie dogs

as food). Many colonies have been wiped out by it. But biologists have developed a vaccine to help protect prairie dog towns from the plague. • In 1900, the largest prairie dog settlement on the high plains of Texas was 100 miles by 250 miles and contained an estimated 400 million prairie dogs. Imagine the delight of the black-footed ferret that found that prairie dog town. Theodore Roosevelt wrote, “Prairiedogs are abundant… they are in shape like little woodchucks and are the most noisy and inquisitive animals imaginable. They are never found singly, but always in towns of several hundred inhabitants; and these towns are found in all kinds of places where the country is flat and treeless.”

Kris is a community builder, leader and connector.

“Kris is a hard-working person who cares deeply about people and our community. He’s a bridge builder and a problem solver. As Edgewater Mayor, he has built strong partnerships across Jeffco because he believes we all do better when we work together.” Congressman Ed Perlmutter

“Kris is a strong advocate for our public schools. He will work tirelessly in the Colorado House to ensure every child receives an excellent education and our schools have the resources to ensure student success. We need Kris’s voice and leadership in the legislature!” Lesley Dahlkemper, former President, Jeffco School Board

Kris’ greatest strength is bringing people together.

• Opportunities for Working Families. Ensuring good jobs with benefits in Colorado is crucial. No one deserves to make anything below a living wage.

• Great Education for Every Kid. Kris was a strong voice during the Jeffco School Board recall and he will be a strong voice for equitable funding of local schools.

• Strong Environmental Leadership. Edgewater was one of the first municipalities to sign on to the Paris Climate Agreement under Kris’s leadership as mayor.

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• Universal Healthcare. Kris will work tirelessly to expand affordable healthcare for all.

www.kristeegardin.com • Facebook @KrisforHD24 • kris@kristeegardin.com • cell (720) 568-0461

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – JUNE 18 – JULY 15, 2018 – ngazette.com

What’s Happening in the WRBA

Great open house and ribbon cutting at Teller Street Gallery on Sat. June 16. New owners Keifer and Katie cut the ribbon with Wheat RIdge Mayor Bud Starker. 7190 W. 38th Ave.

Listening to Gary Barnes at the June WRBA breakfast meeting. What an inspiring message!

July Membership Breakfast

Please register for this meeting before 5pm on Thursday, July 5

wheatridgebiz.com/ upcoming_events/

DATE: Tuesday, July 10, 2018 TIME: 7:00am-9:00am LOCATION: Wheat Ridge Recreation Center – 4005 Kipling St. COST: $15 for WRBA Members and their guests, $18 for Non-members SPEAKER: Ron Sandstrom, Jefferson County Assessor TOPIC: “Meet Ron Sandstrom – Your Jefferson County Assessor” MEETING SPONSOR: Larkin and Associates, Mike Larkin MEMBER BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: TBA

Welcome New Members Justina Gonzalez - Amare Global Tony Hardesty - Tony Hardesty Lisa Conway - Conway Dreams LLC Please join us for our next meeting. Call (720) 588-2317 or email membership@wheatridgebiz.com today for more information.

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Primary Elections Continued from page 6

immigrants, defending the rights of women, LGBTQ people, workers and democracy. He also called for more investment in affordable housing, accessible transit, teachers, small businesses, cannabis and living wages. Milo Schwab, miloschwab.com, started his law firm three years ago to focus on civil rights and workplace discrimination. He also works with Denver startups and small businesses. Schwab noted he will fight to address climate change and build a clean energy grid, to ensure anyone who works a fulltime job can afford housing and a decent standard of living and improve education funding. In his first year in office, Schwab stated he would introduce legislation to guarantee all employees 12 weeks paid leave while caring for a newborn or seriously ill family member at home. He also planned to help address the homeless issue with policies such as rapid rehousing for those on the brink of homelessness and supportive housing to the chronically homeless. To help reform the criminal justice system, Schwab would pursue policies that explore alternative courts and punishments with the goal of rehabilitation and restoration, close private prisons in Colorado and end mass incarceration.

House District 4 House District 4 includes all or part of the West Colfax corridor between Sheridan and Federal, Denver North and West, neighborhoods of the Highlands, Villa Park, Sloan’s Lake, Barnum, Berkeley, Sunnyside and Sun Valley. The seat is currently held by Democratic state Rep. Dan Pabon. State representatives can serve no more than four consecutive two-year terms and Pabon cannot run for re-election. The winner will face Republican candidate Robert “Dave” John in the November election. Amy W. Beatie, beatieforcolorado. com, served a one-year clerkship in 2001 with then-Colorado Supreme Court Justice Gregory J. Hobbs, Jr., focused on water law, criminal, condemnation and taxation cases. Beatie left her private law practice in 2017 to lead the Colorado Water Trust. She remains the nonprofit organization’s executive director and is an adjunct professor at the University of Denver law school. Trying to make sure the state’s strong economy benefits everyone, improving the quality, accessibility and affordability of

education and protecting the environment are issues Beatie planned to focus upon in the legislature. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, serenafor colorado.com, is a youth counselor, social caseworker and director for the Denver Collaborative Partnership. As an elected official, Gonzales-Gutierrez wants to ensure education is accessible and affordable from early childhood through college, address affordable housing with legislation and funding and sponsor legislation that combats climate change, protects public lands, water resources and clean air. Noting a need for transit-oriented development, improved pedestrian, bike, car and mass transit in the state’s major corridors and neighborhood streets, Gonzales-Gutierrez promised to be a strong steward of state transportation funds. She also pledged to defend and uphold federal law regarding pay equity, protect and advance women’s rights, support policies that increase state resources for mental health and substance use treatment, access to inmate diversion programming and to prepare inmates for re-entry into communities. Calling passage of the Colorado Health Exchange one of the best legislative successes in recent years, GonzalesGutierrez would urge Congress to keep Medicaid intact, fund reproductive health organizations and provide subsidies to keep insurance premiums affordable. William Edward “Ed” Britt, britt4co. com, is a graduate of the Colorado Institute for Leadership Training that has produced more than 50 Democratic state legislators and many other elected and nonprofit leaders statewide. He works in senior health care benefits and umpires high school baseball. In the past, he worked in consumer protection at the Colorado Attorney General’s office and at the Auraria Higher Education Center, Colorado Department of Revenue and the Retired Enlisted Association for military veterans. Britt, who petitioned his way on to the ballot, recently helped draft legislation to aid people who face small municipal or petty offenses. He noted the Colorado Bureau of Investigation had often misreported those offenses, which led to the denial of gainful employment and housing. Left without the means to support themselves, faced with dire situations or no place to live, the cycle of food stamps, Medicaid or other support mechanisms was unbreakable, he added. As a state representative, Britt pledged to address reforms in education, housing, urban renewal and support the elderly and military veterans.

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

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ngazette.com – JUNE 18 – JULY 15, 2018 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

WHAT’S HAPPENING Fireworks Laws Strictly Enforced Over July 4th Holiday As the July Fourth holiday approaches, do you have a hankering to use combustion, deflagration or detonation for visible and audible entertainment? Best leave that to professionals at public shows, as it is illegal just about everywhere. In the City of Edgewater, it is illegal to possess any fireworks while in any park, parkway, street, recreation area or open space in the city or to use or explode any fireworks on any public or private property, unless you have obtained a permit for the supervised public display of fireworks. Edgewater has an extensive list of what constitutes fireworks, including: toy cannons or toy canes in which explosives are used, blank cartridges, firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, rockets, Roman candles, Day-Glo bombs, aerial shells, sparklers, trick matches, torches, fountains or other fireworks of like construction, and any fireworks containing any explosive or flammable compound or any tablets or other devices containing any explosive substance. If you are caught with fireworks in Edgewater, the police or fire department may seize, remove and destroy, at your expense, any and all fireworks offered or exposed for sale, stored, held or possessed. Penalties imposed by Edgewater Municipal Court can be up to $900, 180 days in jail, both. Fireworks are also illegal to possess, sell or use in Denver. Penalties for violations are up to $999 in fines and up to one year in jail. Same for Lakewood, where it is illegal to have or use such inflammables as sparklers, Roman candles and smoke bombs. Fines for illegal fireworks can reach $2,650. The Lakewood Police Department will have extra agents on patrol throughout Lakewood to focus solely on fireworks issues. To report illegal fireworks in Lakewood, call police dispatch’s non-emergency reports number, 303-980-7300. However, regardless of where you live, call 911 for urgent cases of injury or fire that threaten life and property. Contact West Metro Fire Rescue at 303-989-4307 or visit www.westmetrofire.org for more information on fireworks safety.

Tips For Protecting Your Pets From Fireworks Fireworks can be disturbing to some animals. Lakewood Animal Control provides the following tips to protect pets when things begin to pop on the Fourth: • Dogs can jump fences when startled by fireworks, even if they have never jumped one before. Keep your pet in a quiet and secure location during fireworks. • Make sure your pet’s ID is current. Dogs? identification tags should have current information in case they get away. • Keep pets indoors during fireworks. Closing curtains, turning on the TV or radio, or keeping your pet in a carrier may provide them a distraction and sense of security during these noisy celebrations. • If you must be outside with your pet, keep them on a leash or in a carrier at all times.

Action Center Seeks Donations As Shelter Programs Shut Down The Board of Directors of The Action Center voted to suspend services of their shelter programs on June 12. The 50-year-old nonprofit is a humanservice organization offering a range of services to struggling residents of Jefferson County and the homeless. According to a press release, it is facing a budget shortfall and the Board and Executive Director needed to take immediate measures

to keep the organization financially stable. The operational costs of the shelter had a great impact on the resources for the organization’s other services. “We will work closely with other community partners to help the individuals and families using our shelter find a place to go,” new Executive Director Pam Brier was quoted in the release. “Taking care of people is what we do, so this is a tough decision for us. Seeking out partnerships to continue to provide critical services to the homeless is our priority.” President of the Board Ben Wiederholt stated that “Leadership transition and changes on our development team over the last six months have led to missed donation goals, and that is taking a toll on our cash flow. “Cutting this expense will allow the organization to regroup and continue to provide food, clothes, and other critical support to those in need in Jefferson County.” The Action Center serves about 20,000 people. In 2017 in addition to services at the shelter, it provided: 628,410 meals; $235,000 in utility assistance; 230,000 clothing items; $186,000 in financial assistance; school supplies for 5,019 children; Thanksgiving meals for 4,898 people; nearly 4,000-holiday gifts for children; and case management services. A group of volunteers is seeking to raise $1 million in the next six months. Donations are being accepted at 8755 W. 14th Ave., Lakewood. For more information, visit theactioncenter.org or call 303-237-7704.

Rabid Bat And Skunks Prompt Safety Advice From Jeffco Public Health Jefferson County Public Health is encouraging residents to take precautions after more than a dozen wild animals were found to have rabies. A bat found in Lakewood, near Morrison Road and Wadsworth Boulevard, tested positive for rabies on June 13 – the first in Jefferson County this year. In 2017, eight bats tested positive in the county. Skunk rabies continues to be a concern across the metro Denver area, with 14 skunks testing positive for the disease this year in Jeffco, the most recent the week of June 8 in Lakewood. This year Colorado has seen more rabies-positive animals than in all of 2017, and peak rabies season is far from over. Though the bat had no known human exposures, one dog was exposed. The dog is current on its rabies vaccine and will be advised to get a rabies booster shot and placed under a 45-day home observation period. The rabies virus, which is transmitted from infected animals through contact with their saliva or through bites, is nearly always fatal to animals and can be fatal to humans if left untreated. Jefferson County Public Health recommends the following precautions to prevent exposure and minimize harm from the deadly virus: • Vaccinate all domestic pets and valuable livestock against rabies and ensure vaccines are kept up-to-date. Now that rabies has been found in both skunks and bats within the county, a domestic animal encounter with any wild animal will be treated like an exposure to a rabid animal. Domestic animals without up-to-date rabies vaccinations will be classified as high risk and be required to undergo a 120-day quarantine. • Avoid contact with any wild animals, especially those that act unusually. A healthy wild animal will generally avoid human contact. Do not feed wild animals, since this reduces their natural fear of humans. • Teach children to stay away from all wild animals, stray domestic pets or dead animals, and to tell an adult if they are scratched or bitten. Remind children of all ages that a sick, dying or dead animal may

carry diseases that humans can contract – trying to help an animal can cause more harm than good. • Do not allow pets to roam free, since this can increase the chance they could be exposed without your knowledge. Do not leave pet food or livestock feed outside or feed your outdoor pet more than they can finish, as this will encourage a wildlife presence. • If your pet comes into contact with a wild animal, wear gloves while cleaning them to minimize your risk of exposure to the virus. • If a person has been bitten or scratched by a wild mammal, they should wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, seek immediate medical attention and notify their local animal control agency. Prompt medical treatment is key to preventing rabies after a possible exposure. To report a suspicious or dead animal or an animal bite, contact your local animal control agency, or Jefferson County Animal Control at 303-271-5070. For more information about rabies, contact JCPH’s Animal Borne Disease Program, part of the Environmental Health Services Division, at 303-232-6301, or visit www.jeffco. us/2365.

Free Summer Workshops At Elitch Theatre Academy Elitch Theatre Academy is offering a free filmmaking workshop for ages 12 and up, Saturday, June 23, 2 to 4 p.m., at 4309 W. 44th Ave., Denver. The Theatre Academy was created in the Spirit of Mary Elitch to provide fine arts education and a center for cultural events, while engaging with the community. Students will learn how to transform

their story idea into a film fit for the big screen with filmmaker Mark Roeder, and follow the life of a film from the seed of an idea, to storyboard, to production, to visual effects. They will watch Roeder’s “Fire Ripples,” a behind-the-scenes video about the stunts and effects, and an animatic (an animated storyboard). Roeder received Writing/Directing and Acting Certificates from Colorado Film School. Other Elitch Theatre Academy offerings include: • First Friday Tenn Street Coffee and Books Wildlife Photography Exhibit and Photo Walk, Friday, July 6, 6 to 9 p.m., at Tenn Street Coffee and Books, 4418 Tennyson St., Denver. Check out the exhibit by Front Range Wildlife Photographers then take a stroll on Tennyson Street to see the beauty and culture the street has to offer and take photographs along the way. Best photographs will be displayed in the Gallery Exhibit for First Friday in August. Free, open to all ages. • Denver Open Media Tour, Wednesday, July 18, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at 700 Kalamath St., Denver. Learn about the vision of the Open Media Foundation while touring the public access TV station, see the user-driven channels, the HD facilities and professional equipment they offer the community so that everyone can make a TV show and have a voice. Free, for ages 12 and up. • Wildlife Photography Workshop, Saturday, July 21, 1 to 3 p.m. Learn from Front Range Wildlife Photographers’ Lauren Lang what gear you need to photograph wildlife, the best places in Colorado to find animals, and what you can do with those images after you take them. Free, all ages. For more information or to enroll, visit www.etfest.com/academy.

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NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – JUNE 18 – JULY 15, 2018 – ngazette.com

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