LOCAL NEWS What 5A And 5B Will Pay For, What They Will Cost Page 5
SCHOOL VISITOR PASS Maple Grove Elementary Principal Chris Neville Page 6
WEST METRO FIRE Measure 7C: Maintaining West Metro’s Resources Page 9
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Gazette NEIGHBORHOOD
WHEAT RIDGE | APPLEWOOD | MOUNTAIN VIEW | LAKESIDE | BERKELEY October 16 – November 14, 2018 • ngazette.com • FREE
Time Again To Trunk Or Treat On The Green, Oct. 27 n By
J. Patrick O’Leary
T
runk or Treat will mark its eighth year on Saturday, Oct. 27, 4 to 6 p.m., on The Green, 7101 W. 38th Ave. Billed by Localworks as a fun, safe trick or treat for kids and their families with participation from firefighters, the police, businesses and community members, the free event boasts games, a car-trunk-decorating contest and, of course, candy. What started as two parents’ attempt to continue an annual children’s Halloween party after Martensen Elementary School’s closure has grown into a communitywide celebration attracting crowds of more than 3,000 people. This year, Localworks has added a photo station where guests can capture a great picture of their costume-bedecked family, with a choice of two backdrops. “We are also trying out a new line set up to help make the line for trick-or-treating run more smoothly,” said Localworks’ Ashley Holland. Destination Dance will kick off the event by teaching revelers to dance, then performing, a zombie-themed “Thriller” dance. The Wheat Ridge Kiwanis Club will once Continued on page 2
GAMES AND GHOULS APLENTY AWAIT REVELERS at this year’s Trunk or Treat celebration, Saturday, Oct. 27, 4 to 6 p.m., on The Green, 7101 W. 38th Ave. PHOTO BY BECKY OLSTAD
Who’s Running For State Legislature – And Why? n By
Mike McKibbin
T
hree Colorado House seats and two state Senate seats will be decided in part by Neighborhood Gazette voters in this month’s general election on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters between Oct. 15 and 19, drop boxes to return those ballots will be open between Oct. 15 and Election Day, while voter service polling centers will be open from Oct. 22 through Election Day.
of science degree from Colorado State University and is married with one son. Gonzales-Gutierrez has worked with victim’s advocates supporting domestic violence victims, as a youth counselor, social caseworker and now director for the Denver Collaborative Partnership. If elected, Gonzales-Gutierrez would work to make education accessible and affordable from early childhood through college and address affordable housing with legislation and funding that includes housing trusts and expanded tax credits.
House District 4 House District 4 (all or some of the West Colfax corridor between Sheridan and Federal, Denver North and West neighborhoods of the Highlands, Villa Park, Sloan’s Lake, Barnum, Berkeley, Sunnyside and Sun Valley), has Democrat Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez running against Republican Robert “Dave” John. GonzalesGutierrez won a three-way primary while John was unopposed. In a short YouTube video, John called Colorado a “wonderful state” when he arrived but blamed “misguided and incompetent” Democratic leadership for creating gridlock and corruption, “with no common sense in our spending priorities.” If elected, John said he would focus on quality of life issues, like roads, education, crime, homelessness, taxes and basic human rights such as the freedom of religion and the Second Amendment. He also listed support for individual liberty, limited government, the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, government transparency, legal immigration and school choice. John retired after 35 years as a City of Denver employee. He earned a bachelor
She would sponsor legislation that combats climate change, protects public lands, water resources and clean air. The seat is currently held by state Rep. Dan Pabon, (D), who cannot run for reelection. State representatives can serve no more than four consecutive two-year terms.
House District 23 House District 23 (all or some of Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, Applewood, East Pleasant
View, the West Colfax corridor/40 West Arts District) features incumbent Democrat Chris Kennedy and Republican challenger Joan Poston. Kennedy is seeking his second term and wrote on his campaign website that his top priority has been to increase transparency in health care spending. Kennedy sponsored a bill the last two years to require hospitals to submit more data to the state to help analyze price and utilization trends and identify changes to reduce costs. Continued on page 4
N E I G H B O R H O O D F E AT U R E
Pharmacists In Expanding Role As Caregivers n By
Ken Lutes
Y
ou may have seen postings in grocery and drug stores announcing the availability of shots for flu or shingles. But did you know pharmacists immunize adults and children for many other diseases, such as polio, measles, tetanus and whooping cough? In the late 1990s, the state of Colorado began to allow pharmacists to administer immunizations. Since that time, programs like the one at Regis University’s School of Pharmacy have required its students not only to learn about the science of medications but also to apply those skills in a clinical setting. Doctors Christine Feltman and Robert Haight are assistant professors at Regis who share a passion for teaching students and for sharing information about the expanding role pharmacists play in today’s world of medical science. Feltman says that people might be surprised to know just how deep Continued on page 12
FLU VACCINATIONS AVAILABLE AT PHARMACIES, such as the one in this Safeway grocery store at 38th and Wadsworth Blvd., are free under most insurance plans and may be covered as a $0 co-pay. Pharmacists can provide details about other immunizations and age restrictions. PHOTO BY KEN LUTES