Neighborhood Gazette – May 2019 –Wheat Ridge by Neighborhood Gazette

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Help Everitt Middle School Attend Outdoor Lab Page 2

SCHOOL CROSSING Right or Wrong – History Will Tell Page 5

WHAT’S HAPPENING Volunteers Make Criterium And Brewfest Happen Page 15

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WHEAT RIDGE | APPLEWOOD | MOUNTAIN VIEW | LAKESIDE | BERKELEY May 14 – June 16, 2019 • ngazette.com • FREE

‘Continuous Flow’ Intersections One Step Closer To Reality n By

Mike McKibbin

rivers on Wadsworth Boulevard in Wheat Ridge would have to learn how to make their way through two “continuous flow” intersections under a design outlined in a recently released environmental assessment for a widening project between 35th Avenue and Interstate 70. The City of Wheat Ridge developed the document, which is available for public viewing and comment through Wednesday, June 5. Wadsworth, which is Colorado Highway 121 through Wheat Ridge, was last widened to four lanes in 1959, said Mark Westberg, city project supervisor. “So it’s been a while,” he stated. “We’ve been actively focused on this section in the last 5-6 years.” The city began the assessment in April 2016, after a 2015 planning and environmental linkage study. Goals of the proposed project are to expand the street from four to six lanes; provide better bicycle, pedestrian and transit facilities; manage driveway access to the street; and provide Continued on page 16

THOUSANDS WILL GATHER AT THE WHEAT RIDGE CRITERIUM AND BREWFEST on the morning of June 9 along 38th Avenue, but long before that, volunteers will have set up barricades, tents, signage, tables and chairs to ensure everything is ready. See story page 15. PHOTO BY BECKY OLSTED

Rails Reach Wheat Ridge, But Critics Remain n By

Mike McKibbin

ommuter rail service finally came to Wheat Ridge on Friday, April 26. But while many celebrated, some were more pessimistic weeks earlier. The G (Gold) Line carries passengers 11.2 miles between Wheat Ridge and downtown Denver’s Union Station, through Arvada, Adams County and Denver, in 27 minutes, traveling at up to 65 mph. The project is part of the Denver Regional Transportation District’s 2004 voter-approved FasTracks program to expand transit across the Denver metro region. It is the third and final commuter rail line to open as part of the $2.2 billion federallyfunded Eagle public-private partnership and is operated by RTD concessionaire Denver Transit Partners. The company also operates the A Line to Denver International Airport and the B Line to Westminster. RTD spokeswoman Laurie Huff said a cost estimate for the G Line was not available due to cost overlaps with other commuter projects. Commuter rail trains carry more passengers than light rail, are designed to travel faster over longer distances with fewer stops and offer larger seats, overhead storage, luggage towers and bicycle racks, Huff noted. G Line riders pay a one-way $3 fare with eight stops: Union Station, 41st and Fox, Pecos Junction, Clear Creek and Federal, 60th Avenue and Sheridan at Arvada Gold Strike, Olde Town Arvada, Arvada Ridge and Wheat Ridge Ward at 52nd Avenue and Ward Road. All stations except Union Station have parking, and some may charge fees. However, Huff noted many park-and-ride

lots will be free for up to the first 90 days, except Olde Town Arvada, which is cityowned. “We are really excited for the opening of the G line bringing visitors and employees to the city,” Mayor Bud Starker said in an RTD news release. “The new commuter line also offers our residents easy access to downtown Denver and a stress-free ride to Denver International Airport. Wheat Ridge

employees can choose to live in communities throughout the metro Denver area without adding a long commute.” Each two-car G Line train can carry 170 passengers, with seating for 91 and two wheelchair spaces per car. “People like rail, especially commuter rail,” Huff stated. “The A Line is well ahead of its yearly projections and we’re glad to finally have the G Line operating.”

Ridership estimate questioned

RTD forecast G Line ridership at 9,000 passenger trips per day in the first year and 12,900 daily trips by 2035. But those were fuzzy numbers to Wheat Ridge city councilman Larry Matthews. “I really question those numbers,” he said at an April 1 study session. “There’s only 290 Continued on page 12

PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

We All Do Magic Every Day n By

Ken Lutes

aying a prayer, setting a goal, or making a wish are things we humans do to stir up our natural energy with the intention to incite change. We may light a candle, brew a tea, or perform brief breathing exercises to appropriate certain moods. This everyday moving of energy is magic, according to Missy Rhysing, the founder and owner of RitualCravt, at 7700 W. 44th Ave., in Wheat Ridge. RitualCravt is devoted to teaching people about the magic inherent in modern-day witchcraft, or the Old Religion. The shop provides classes and supporting wares to this vibrant community that has been growing since the 1960s. To answer the burgeoning popularity of this practice, RitualCravt recently moved from its north Denver location to Wheat Ridge. “We went from 900 square feet to 3,800,” said Rhysing. “Our showroom area has our products and apothecary, and we have a library, classrooms and a production space, where we make candles and teas and other things. We’re adding a plant section for medical herbs but also house plants.” Rhysing says they’re seeing a revolution of people taking back their Continued on page 16

MISSY RHYSING, OWNER OF RITUALCRAVT, reﬂects on the grand opening of the store’s new space at 7700 W. 44th Ave. PHOTO BY KEN LUTES.

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – MAY 14 – JUNE 16, 2019 – ngazette.com

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Help Everitt Middle School Attend Outdoor Lab Dear school and community leaders, I am writing as an alumna of the Jefferson County School District and as a parent of a 6th grade student at Everitt Middle School. As you all know, the Outdoor Lab experience is a virtual rite of passage for Jeffco students. As highlighted in the most recent Chalk Talks, it has been a tradition in the county for 62 years. I would challenge any of you to find a student who attended Outdoor Lab as a 6th grader who does not recall the experience as a highlight of their entire primary school experience. I do not think it would be hyperbole to say that every parent who attended and has a student in Jeffco looks forward to their own children experiencing this wonderful tradition. Jeffco students as young as first grade hear stories about their parents and/ or siblings attending and look forward to the opportunity themselves. There are few, if any, programs accessible to ALL Jeffco students that the district should be more proud of than offering Outdoor Lab to ALL 6th graders. I am glad that student safety is a high priority in our district and I am grateful that our school district elected to declare a lockin, cancel classes, and bring our children home from Outdoor Lab, in order to keep our children safe in the face of a credible threat to their safety. Thank you. I would now like to ask you to try hard to get the Everitt 6th grade students back to Outdoor Lab – try until it happens. Everitt Middle School is a Title I school, which means that there is a high likelihood that 6th graders at the school do not have the same access to outdoor pursuits and overnight camps as students at other middle schools in the district. If any schools should be prioritized for the Outdoor Lab experience it should be the Title I schools in the district as one mechanism to promote equity and provide opportunities for disadvantaged students. The lack of exposure to Outdoor Lab might also impact the leadership opportunity for these students when they are eligible to be high school chaperones. Additionally, the city of Wheat Ridge recently donated almost $20,000 to the Outdoor Lab foundation and as it turns out, none of the middle schoolers in Wheat Ridge were able to attend Outdoor Lab this year. Try until it happens. I truly believe it can. I hear equity talked about so often in schools and in advancing the educational opportunities of our youth. Perhaps district teachers, high school students, administrators and parents could volunteer their time. There are parents who are district employees, police officers and nurses who have been vetted and background checked. Perhaps the students could attend during their 7th grade year or the week before school officially starts – using volunteers to reduce cost if necessary. District leaders, school administrators, teachers and parents

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Wadsworth Widening: It's About Better Transportation Dear Editor, The full environmental assessment (EA) for the Wadsworth Boulevard Widening Project is a BIG READ. (www.ci.wheatridge. co.us/1726/30001/Wadsworth-Blvd-EADocuments?activeLiveTab=widgets) To cut quickly to the chase (and avoid the dreaded “tl;dr”) I have this suggestion. Read the Transportation Technical Report. (www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/ DocumentCenter/View/30096/AppendixB11-Transportation-Technical-Report) The meat of the Transportation Technical Report is, well, not as technical as you might think. (The black-with-ink tables are all at the back). The Wadsworth Widening Project is all about improving the transportation system in Our Fair City. The Transportation Technical Report will focus and get you up to speed (so to speak) on the key transportation topics. Here’s the list of these eight topics (with my brief note on their content in parenthesis): 1. Traffic volumes (existing and forecasted, with and without the proposed improvements) 2. Traffic operations (including how the critical continuous-flow intersections proposed for 38th and 44th are predicted to perform in reducing delays) 3. Access and local streets (including consolidation of curb cuts) 4. Parking (some losses to private parking lots, but that’s in the context of more than ample existing spaces overall) 5. Safety (equal or fewer accidents projected once drivers learn to use the continuous flow intersections) 6. Pedestrians and bicycles (e.g., the west-side sidewalk and the east-side multiuse path, plus better ways to get pedestrians – including the disabled – across Wadsworth at more locations) 7. Transit (relocation of stops for the 76 bus that improve transfers with the 38 and 44; “queue jump” aisles to prevent bus stops from gumming up the works), and 8. Construction process (temporary impacts to traffic and access and the compensating work-arounds and detours expected to provide some relief from the short-term pain). The EA and attached technical reports incorporate a lot of planning, public input, experience from other projects in Colorado and elsewhere, engineering and thought. In particular, the Transportation Technical Report succinctly focuses on the specific solutions devised to improve Wadsworth's performance as one of our principal transportation facilities. – Lloyd Levy, Wheat Ridge

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NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – MAY 14 – JUNE 16, 2019 – ngazette.com

WHEAT RIDGE MAYOR

What’s Happening in the WRBA

The G Line Provides Wheat Ridge With A Ticket To Ride I offer a huge THANK YOU to you, our community, for your support and patience e were very excited on April 26 as the in helping RTD and its partners make this G Line finally pulled into the Wheat line a reality. Ridge Ward Station! The arrival of the new On Saturday April 27, Wheat Ridge, commuter rail line was celebrated in style Arvada and Adams County celebrated the with ribbon cuttings at each station and the opening of the G Line with station parties at grand opening at the Wheat Ridge Ward each stop along the route. Guests attending Base Camp in Wheat Ridge were treated to Station. gold panning, a climbing wall, I joined dignitaries from bungee jumping, food trucks RTD and Wheat Ridge elected and vendors offering giveaways officials to cut the ribbon and and information. we were then joined by several Special thanks to JeffCo hundred people for remarks and Open Space, Colorado Division the unveiling of the permanent of Parks and Wildlife, WRPD plaque to be placed at the station. Community Services Officers, This is a huge milestone for Foothills Animal Shelter, Trout the City of Wheat Ridge. We Unlimited, Lutheran Medical now have easy rail access into Center, Localworks, Lola’s downtown Denver via Union Rescue, Bike JeffCo and the Station in about 25 minutes and Bud Starker City of Wheat Ridge volunteers connections onto the full light for contributing your time to rail system throughout the metro area, including rail into and out of DIA. this fun and memorable celebration. Also This line is not only giving our residents thanks to Altitude Industries for bringing the ability to connect locally and regionally, their roof-top tent display and to Down but internationally as well. Residents will River Rafting for joining us to showcase be able to travel to their jobs, families and their white-water rafts. entertainment with greater convenience, The art sculpture, “Anchored by Place,” with the new line also bringing new residents created by Michael Clapper was also dedicated at the event. Diane Robb, chair of and visitors to our city. Our “roots” in Wheat Ridge were first the Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission, made established during the Gold Rush of 1859 a few remarks to celebrate the iconic wheat when Wheat Ridge served as a rest stop for stalks that rise high above the ground to form miners headed to mountain gold camps. So an archway into Base Camp at Wheat Ridge. it’s fitting that this line was called the Gold Now that it’s finally here, get out and Line during design and construction and will take a ticket to ride on the G Line. All now be called the G Line as it gets people aboard! to and from their modern day lives. The Contact Wheat Ridge mayor Bud Adventure truly begins at the end of line, Starker at bstarker@ci.wheatridge.co.us right here at Base Camp in Wheat Ridge. or 303-235-2800. n By

Bud Starker

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Guy Nahmiach

s a real estate broker, I inherit many old items people have been keeping for years. The house is sold, the owners have moved away and I suddenly own a Montgomery Ward tiller that, with some persuasion, works once again. I love bringing machines and things that have been dormant for years, back to life again. Certainly better then sending to a landfill or going out and spending money on newer versions. The used-car market is a huge business with people holding on to their vehicles for much longer these days and opting to buy a pre-owned car rather then invest in shiny showroom models. The housing market is different since location is at the top of the list for most buyers. Hence, the ability to attain both goals with the repair or remodel of an existing home in a great neighborhood. Recycling and reusing are crucial in slowing down the filling of landfills with goods we don’t need or want anymore. I’m not referring to putting that old couch in your front yard with a “free” sign hoping someone will haul it away. Same with the ancient 27-inch Sony Trinitron TV you inherited from the people you bought your home from. The thought of trying to move this or actually pay someone to have it thrown away is too ridiculous and so you just hold on to it for a few more years. Even the city neighborhood cleanup program won’t allow you to get rid of it. Fix-it cafes are popping up around the country these days. A place with

professionals that will teach you to fix things. From lamps and household goods like your iron to sunglasses and tools to bicycles. With volunteers dropping in every week, they help seniors, moms and dads and anyone else from the community in need of repair on their household items. The rent is paid for by donations and grants. Probably something our own city and Localworks can organize. With so many retired professionals, we have an endless talent pool all around us. While these places can help in repairing your bike, shoes, lamps and perhaps even your clothes, they are not meant to replace professional help available in nearby shops. Most users of repair or fix-it cafes admit that they would never actually pay someone to repair the item. They would simply throw it away in the trash and head over to a store to buy a new one. The whole idea is to slow the flow of broken things into landfills. I know paying for a repair job sometimes costs more than the replacement itself. But what if the repair was free? Most people I spoke with would in fact attempt to have it fixed for free instead of replacing it. I see a whole new side to critical thinking over at the Wheat Ridge High School STEM program: Imagine these bright problem solvers that grew up taking their parents’ vacuum cleaners apart and actually helping our seniors in fixing things around their home. Fix-it cafe – let’s get one right here in Wheat Ridge. Contact Guy Nahmiach at Guy@NostalgicHomes.com or 303-999-5789.

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SCHOOL CROSSING

LOCALWORKS UPDATE

Right or Wrong – History Will Tell

Family-Friendly Movies In The Park

bomb, dropped on Hiroshima, kill 70,000 lives on the island? Or did it save 10 million oth George and I took the same history by ending World War II? Did the U.S. lose class as juniors in high school in the Vietnam War or succeed in preventing Montreal, Canada. George took his class in the spread of communism? Is the embargo English while I took mine in French. Same on Cuba helping to free the country from a level and same grade – well, almost the dictator? Does the road diet on West 38th same. In George’s books, the English won Avenue actually improve business on that all the wars while my books recounted tales corridor or just deter citizens from driving on that road? of French victories. These are the debates going on in my Are your kids coming home with different versions and outcomes of the history taught house every day and in the car on the way to school. Healthy, loud and animated to you when you attended school? It was debates based on two things: during this year’s Passover What I learned in school a holiday when my youngest million years ago and what my shared that his history teacher son learned yesterday, with told the class that the Jewish the full understanding that my people were actually paid to grandchildren will be having the build the pyramids and were not same debate with their father. slaves as taught in my history I recently read a teacher’s books.. I remember my oldest post on a social media site about being told by their AP History how young students were losing teacher that she’s decided to interest in history and how he remove the Holocaust from the “feared for our democracy.” I curriculum because it was not couldn’t disagree more: history a significant event involving Guy Nahmiach just takes on a different angle. America. History has always been kind of a Teachers that are able to take history out of restaurant menu. Pick what you’re hungry the textbook and bring it to life inside the for or need to support your point of view. classrooms and the minds of these students, We do this in debates and arguments, like characters in a reality show, will capture movies and news reports. Governments the attention of their young learners, use this to create new policies as related making history not only relevant but fun to political positions. And closer to home, and something to get passionate about. we use this in our discussions around the Democracy is the very essence of passion, kitchen table. Who’s right, who’s wrong? point of view mixed into a story that reflects The answer depends on when the question our past, present and future. Mr. Gold over at Everitt Middle School is being asked. Explorers were considered national does this every day. He asks his students to heroes as they discovered new lands and take on the persona of famous and infamous cultures. But as time moved on we learned of characters in history. When you take on the horrible chapters during those adventures. personality of Lewis and Clark, you begin We used to say that history is written by the to understand, first hand, their challenges winners. Meaning that the “losers” never had and successes. When you become a native a voice. Or at least an opportunity to recount American being lead on the Trail of Tears, their side. There are many debates with no Continued on page 15 answers but multiple views. Did the atomic

n By

Guy Nahmiach

take place on June 21. That evening, music will be provided by Jakarta 5, and Teller Street Gallery and Studios will provide t’s a summer Friday night in Wheat Ridge. the evening’s craft. Our movie for June is What are you and your family up to? “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” You Maybe it’s time for a date night at one of won’t want to miss this adventure through Wheat Ridge’s great restaurants. Perhaps the multi-verse. In the film, Spider-Man you and the kids are going out for a family Miles Morales teams up with some of game night at one of the bowling alleys. If his counterparts from other dimensions, it’s a beautiful night, you might want to take including Peter Parker, Gwen a walk or a bike ride around the Stacy and Spider-Ham. Rated neighborhood. If it’s June 21 PG, this movie is sure to please or July 19, hopefully, you’ll be family members of all ages. Join heading to Friday Night Live. in on the fun by coming as your Friday Night Live is an favorite superhero. evening full of fun on the Green Our second Friday Night on Ridge at 38 (7101 W. 38th Live will take place on July 19. Ave.). This event brings the We’ll have music by the 17th whole family together for live Avenue Allstars, and Sweet music, food, kids’ crafts and a Ridge Studios will provide the movie. Friday Night Live is the evening’s craft. Our July movie perfect opportunity to relax will be “Monsters Inc.” In this outside with your loved ones and Ashley Holland film, Sulley and Mike are the enjoy a good time. top scare team at Monsters Inc., a screamThis summer, Localworks is hosting processing plant. Everything turns upside two Friday Night Live events. Each evening down when one of the kids they are trying to kicks off with live music at 7 p.m. During scare follows them into their world. Rated the music, there are kids’ crafts and other G, this film is great for monsters big and activities to enjoy. Before the show begins, small. Show off your creativity by coming as you can grab snacks or a bite to eat from a monster. one of the food trucks, or feel free to bring a We hope to see you at Friday Night Live picnic dinner from home. Then, the familythis summer. If you need more information friendly movie begins at dusk (between about these events, please visit Ridgeat38. 8:30 and 9 p.m.). Don’t forget your blanket com/friday-night-live. or some lawn chairs so you can sit back and Ashley Holland is the Marketing and relax during the movie. Events Coordinator at Localworks. Our first Friday Night Live of 2019 will n By

Ashley Holland

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ASK THE SUPER Reflections On This Past School Year school safety threat to Jeffco. An individual from Florida made her way to Jeffco and hen reflecting on this past school year, presented a credible, but unspecified, it is important for me to begin with threat to schools across the metro area. In a note of gratitude. I have had the honor of an unprecedented move, schools across serving this community as superintendent for the entire Denver-metro area closed out nearly two years now. As someone coming in of an abundance of caution. Sadly, this from the outside, people here may not fully individual took her own life, but the fears and realize what a wonderful place Jeffco is. Not reverberations from this event are still felt. Jeffco’s schools are incredibly only am I proud to work as the safe and we have one of the best leader of the public school system school safety teams and systems here, I am also a Jeffco parent. in the world here. Still, there is I am grateful every day for the much we can learn and we will opportunity to work with the great continue to work on making staff, students, and families we our schools as safe as they can have in Jeffco. I am also grateful possibly be. for the opportunity to raise our I had the chance to visit family here, and to be part of this over 300 classrooms in Jeffco community. this year. I saw great progress We also have much to in schools on our teachers and celebrate in Jeffco this school year. We remain incredibly appreciative Jason E. Glass, Ed.D. staff engaging with students and and thankful for our voters for passing ballot working to make learning meaningful and questions 5A and 5B last fall. These resources relevant. We want to create the same kinds will increase the competitiveness of our of complex tasks our students are asked district in terms of attracting and retaining to complete when they leave our schools. talent, add mental health and school security Our schools and staff got better at these supports, expand early childhood education, instructional changes this year and we are set add career/technical education options, and up for even more progress going forward. In all, the 2018-19 school year has been add greater instructional technology and curriculum. We will also be making a multi- a tremendous success and I am proud to call year and significant investment in our school Jeffco home. Jason E. Glass, Ed.D., is Superintendent buildings. While there is an effort to improve every Jeffco school with these new funds, & Chief Learner of Jeffco Public Schools; there is a focus on improving equity across www.jeffcopublicschools.org. If you have a question for our superinour buildings and re-investing in our older tendent, please submit it to Guy@Nostalgic high schools. This spring brought another significant Homes.com or call it in to 303-999-5789. n By

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n early April, a group of Wheat Ridge High School students traveled to Sonoma, Calif., to compete in the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas. The event is one of the top energy-efficiency competitions in the world, drawing participants from North, Central and South America. For the fifth consecutive year, they stood proudly on the podium, this year taking second place for their Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car. The students also placed in the National Robotics League’s first state competition, held in Denver this past April. While their battlebot didn't quite make it into battle, the students’ hard work – documenting, designing and interviewing – still earned them a place on the podium. Fueled by their victory, there are already plans to make two battlebots for next year. Their success is due in large part to the leadership of Charles Sprague, who oversees the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program at WRHS. The program, which began in 2014 with a modest headcount of 16 students, has changed a lot the past several years. There are now over 100 students enrolled, with 40 new faces scheduled to enroll this upcoming school year. In fact, it has become so popular that it is now backed by a dedicated media team of eight, led by T.J. Arbuckle. In a way, it is bittersweet. “The original group that started all of this, they've all graduated,” Sprague explained. But the growth he’s observed in the students makes it all worth it. While there’s something to be said for the great attention to detail, skill and brainpower that goes into completing these projects, it’s not the only benefit. “One of the biggest things [students] thank us for are the soft skills: the people skills, presenting in front of people,” Sprague said. “This has helped the6m in college, more than any engineering piece.

“

WHEAT RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL STEM STUDENTS TRAVELED TO SONOMA, Calif., in early April to compete in the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas, this year taking second place for their Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car. PHOTO: STEM MEDIA DIVISION/ SHELL ECO-MARATHON

They are the leaders of their groups because they understand how groups work and they are not intimidated.” These are proud moments for Sprague, who is the only full-time STEM instructor at WRHS (the program is supported by other staff including Andy Yutzy and Lance Austin, in addition to professional mentors). In fact, the students’ achievements have had a significant impact on him both personally and professionally. “I love helping [students] become great citizens and chase their passion as they leave high school,” he said. So, what's next? “The students have asked to do a new type of project for next year, some sort of rocket competition,” Sprague shared excitedly. “There are two different ones, and we’ll pick one at the end of the year.” Although the school year is coming to a close, students aren’t losing momentum anytime soon. As they continue to hone their craft, build their skill sets and work together as a team, there’s no doubt that the sky’s the limit for Wheat Ridge High School.

Stevens Hosts First-Ever Elementary School Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Car Competition n By

Meghan Godby

ozens of proud parents gathered in the gymnasium at Stevens Elementary on May 11 for a an elementary school hydrogen fuel-cell car competition – possibly the first ever, anywhere. The event was made possible through a partnership between the Foundation for Advanced STEM Education (FASE) and TechForce, a nonprofit based in Arizona. Dedicated to bringing hands-on, tactile education to students, FASE is the brainchild of Charles Sprague, a STEM instructor at Wheat Ridge High School. This competition was the foundation’s first project and, according to Sprague, the “first of many partnerships” with TechForce. The DIY hydrogen fuel cell car kits were provided by Horizon Educational. Seven local elementary schools competed from the greater metro area, including Stevens, Pennington and Prospect Valley Elementary. There were five teams who each had three runs to qualify for the final race. With team names like Flying Turkeys and Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies, the creativity was paramount. One car was designed to look like PacMan, while other designs were made from old CDs or remnants of soda bottles. With students working together excitedly at each of their respective tables, the event hummed along flawlessly. In fact, you wouldn’t know that it all came together in such a short time frame. “This project started in December last year, so the competition has been put together in five months,” said Sprague.

THE FIRST-EVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HYDROGEN FUEL CELL CAR competition took place in the Stevens Elementary gymnasium May 11. Seven local schools competed, including Stevens, Pennington and Prospect Valley. PHOTO: MEGHAN GODBY.

“That’s pretty wonderful.” Awards were given in a variety of categories including video documentation, engineering documentation and outstanding body design. The students are hooked. When asked who was excited to come back next year, they all raised their hands and cheered in unison. Luckily, they won’t have to wait long - similar competitions are in the works, including a drone competition next year. The hope is that these experiences will encourage a lifelong passion for learning and experimenting while helping the students build practical, STEM-based skills to carry them through high school and beyond.

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MOUNTAIN VIEWS A Spring Town Briefing with Mayor Glenn Levy n By

Patricia Lilliston

he spring season typically invites a sense of renewal and opportunity for growth. During a recent conversation, Mountain View Mayor Glenn Levy shared community highlights, current town council actions and advice that likewise, reflects renewal and growth for the town. Within the past few months, Levy met with several existing and potential community business owners. “These connections have been a highlight for me as the town considers future commercial development.” Levy notes that the hire of Police Chief Steve Davis is another high point. “Chief Davis is an experienced officer and good communicator.” He says that they have discussed cost effective measures to implement within the police department. Levy acknowledges, “Chief Davis has already introduced some changes.” On April 22 the town received fund approval for the Mountain View Wastewater and Stormwater Improvement project. “This notification is of significant importance,” emphasizes Levy. “The infrastructure project is a community priority.” When all aspects of this project are finalized, residents will be notified for a public meeting. The town council passed many ordinances this spring. Two new rulings support the health and safety for community members. Now pet owners who tie or leave unsheltered animals outside for extended periods of time or fail to clean up animal waste on their property are in violation and are subject to a fine. Another new ordinance requires that a homeowner must secure authorization to maintain a short term rental. Levy explains, “This license will allow the town to track

the property status and set a standard for safety.” Two spring council workshops focused on design guidelines. After study, the council favors the concept of bulk plane standards for new home and business construction. This standard stipulates architectural elements such as size, roof pitch and lot coverage. With regard to future commercial growth, Levy reports that a Verizon store will be built on the available corner at West 44th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard. To date, the site has been approved. The ground breaking and opening date have not been determined. On April 8, at a public hearing, the town council approved medical and recreational licenses for Eagle River Investments, LLC. The new business will occupy the existing commercial site at 5238 W. 44th Ave. Then on April 27, the council Community Development and Outreach committee presented the results of the town survey, which had been initiated last fall to ascertain residential priorities. “The survey results were informative, enlightening and overall, the ideas suggested were good,” reflects Levy. Finally, Levy offered advice for anyone interested in seeking a town council position in the November 2019, election. “Plan to attend a few town meetings and community events. Determine what changes you want to promote within the community.” Levy adds, “No previous experience is necessary, but a seat on the council is a four-year term commitment requiring attendance at regular town and committee meetings.” Mark your calendar for Coffee with the Mayor, Saturday, June 1, time and location to be announced, or contact Mayor Glenn Levy at glevy@tomv.org.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Love Cycling? Consider A Group Ride n By

Meghan Godby

f you’ve spent any time on neighborhood roads lately, you’ve probably noticed something. Those bike lanes? They’re getting a lot of use. While die-hard cyclists are at it all year round, the warmer weather can bring even the dustiest bicycles out of the storage shed. For those that are new to the sport, the prospect of venturing out alone can be intimidating; even the most experienced riders enjoy some company from time to time. Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities to meet other cyclists in your neighborhood. Group rides are a great option. Consider the West Side Brewery Bike Loop, which combines cycling with a love of local brews. On the final Saturday of each month (April through September), join other beer lovers for a tour of local breweries (e.g., WestFax Brewing Company on West Colfax or Oasis Brewing in Denver). There are discounts at each stop and each monthly ride has a fun theme (April was Rock n’ Roll). The course starts at 11:30 a.m. and takes approximately three and a half hours; see westdenverbrewerybikeloop.com for more details. Local bike shops are another excellent resource. Wheat Ridge Cyclery (7085 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge) regularly hosts group rides, while Yawp Cyclery (2521 Sheridan Blvd., Edgewater) hosts rides most Thursday evenings. Since they are staffed by

knowledgeable and passionate experts, you can stop by anytime for advice, questions or simply a quick chat. Visit wheatridgecyclery. com or yawpcyclery.com for more details. Depending on where you live, you might also want to check out BikeDenver (bikedenver.org). They host group rides every Thursday (including a line-up of farmer’s market rides this summer) and regularly lead programs for adults and children. The organization is especially passionate about promoting cyclist safety; stop by their free bike repair event on June 23 at Dailey Park (1 S. Cherokee St., Denver). Interested in a group ride, but not feeling confident when it comes to navigating neighborhood streets? The City of Wheat Ridge has you covered. On May 21, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., they'll be hosting a Bicycle and Pedestrian Safe Drivers Course at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center (4005 Kipling St.). The course will help educate motorists and cyclists on safety and legal issues and promote sharing the road. The class is free and open to everyone. For more information, call Robin Baker at 720-2591030. Other notable upcoming events include the Criterium Bike Race and festival at Stevens Elementary (June 9, 7101 W. 38th Ave.) and a kids’ Bicycle Rodeo and Giveaway at the Wheat Ridge Library (June 15 from 1 to 3 p.m.). For more information, visit wearelocalworks.org or jeffcolibrary. org, respectively.

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parking spaces in the parking lot. My concern is that these numbers are looked at as being cast in stone and a lot of times they don’t work out. I just don’t trust RTD numbers.” Matthews added the original plan for the station was to include buses. “I want to figure out how much business that train brings to a dead-end station and what it will actually generate,” he said. “If the ridership doesn’t reach their numbers, we’ve got to start building roads. And this is an endof-the-line station, make no mistake about it. When it comes to RTD, all roads lead to Rome and all trains lead to Denver.” Huff provided commuter rail ridership estimates and first-year actual ridership numbers for the A Line at a forecast of 18,600 passenger trips per day and actual ridership of 18,200. The B Line was forecast to make 800 passenger trips per day and had 1,300. Huff noted those forecasts assumed the A, B and G lines would all open in 2016. And Huff stated actual ridership for the G Line could cause a drop in B Line ridership due to the belief that some G Line passengers rode the B Line before the G Line opened. RTD celebrates 50 years of service this year and touts its FasTracks projects as good for the economy, with $5.3 billion invested or committed across the region. Every $1 invested in transit infrastructure translates into a $4 return over 20 years, RTD noted in a study, and created 13,000 direct full-time jobs since 2005. Ridership on rapid transit lines has

“I just love the excitement and knowing that what we’re doing today is going to be helping tomorrow.” Such efforts were echoed by the City of Edgewater, which hosted an Arbor Day celebration on Saturday, April 27. The event brought neighbors and city staff together to help plant trees near the Civic Center. Not only was this an opportunity for residents to meet their neighbors, but it was also a chance to learn more about tree care and maintenance. These awareness-building events are especially crucial as trees continue to face threats from disease and insects, like the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). While the EAB has not been detected in Jefferson County, it is a genuine threat. Many cities have detailed mitigation plans so they can be ready to act at a moment's notice. Robin Rice, Forestry Technician for the City of Wheat Ridge, explains. “The USDA recommends communities prepare in advance,” she said. “Usually, EAB has been in a community a few years before it has been officially detected. We are monitoring, setting traps and treating some trees.” The City of Edgewater also has EAB on its radar. An inventory of all Ash trees within public right-of-way was completed in 2014, and when the insect was discovered in Boulder, the Edgewater initiated prescribed removals of smaller trees and the tagging of larger trees. As we move into a time of increased development, these types of programs and plans of action will help ensure that our local communities can enjoy our trees for many generations to come. remained relatively steady, the study noted. The E, F and H lines have the highest ridership and continue to increase, while the A Line experienced a 20 percent increase in ridership after its first year. Randal O’Toole is the director of the Independence Institute’s Transportation Policy Center and author of a book, “Romance of the Rails: Why the Passenger Trains We Love Are Not the Transportation We Need.” He wrote in a March 2019 blog post on the institute website that in 2004, RTD estimated that building the A and G lines would cost about $1 billion, but had spent $3.1 billion on the two lines through 2017. Since 2004, O’Toole said RTD spent $3 billion on lightrail lines that were estimated to cost less than $1.5 billion. Huff said she could not comment on O’Toole’s cost estimates. O’Toole said in an interview that RTD built the G Line “because it’s the shortest and was all they could afford to build” currently. “It’s foolish for them to say rail is better than bus,” he added. “The Flatiron Express (bus service between Denver and Boulder) costs a lot less and significantly relieves congestion compared to trains.” O’Toole added rail lines wear out and need replacement after about 30 years. He noted RTD’s oldest light-rail line is 25 years old. While he admitted buses are usually replaced every 12-15 years, the cost is much less. “Rail requires its own infrastructure, buses don’t,” O’Toole said. “RTD should stop building rail service and buy more buses.” Editor’s note: this is the first in a series about the recently begun G Line commuter rail service in Wheat Ridge.

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Wildfire Can Threaten Many Colorado Neighborhoods n By

Ronda Scholting

snowy winter and wet spring have meteorologists predicting an average to below average wildfire season in Colorado this year. Even so, state fire officials are predicting we’ll see around 6,000 fires across the state. “I don’t want this average risk to lull people into a false sense of security,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis. “The number of people at risk of wildfire continues to increase with our increased population and with climate change.” The reality is that wildfires in Colorado don’t just happen in the forests and in the high country. They happen in what’s called the wildland-urban interface – where open spaces and parks border neighborhoods. Nearly three million Coloradans live in that interface. A place where a fast-moving grass or brush fire can quickly endanger hundreds of homes and families. “We have dozens of neighborhoods in the West Metro Fire Rescue district where homes could be impacted by fires in open spaces, or fires that start along roads or highways,” said Clint Fey, West Metro Division Chief, Risk Management. “That’s why our crews have trained extensively in how to quickly respond to these fires.” There’s a misconception that homes and property lost or damaged in a wildfire is a result of direct exposure to the main body of the fire. In most cases, it’s the embers from

the fire, pushed aloft by the wind, that land around structures and ignite. The embers lodge on rooftops, in gutters, in flowerbeds, and under decks – where there may be dead or dry vegetation or debris. May is Wildfire Awareness Month, a great time to take a look at your property and consider some small, inexpensive changes that can make your home, family and community much safer. It all starts with a walk around your home after a windy day. “I tell people to take a look at where leaves or other debris pile up,” said West Metro Firefighter Jonathan Ashford. “And, then, make sure to keep those areas clean. You should have a five-foot fire-free area closest to your home using nonflammable landscaping material and fire-resistant plants.” Defensible space is a property’s first line of defense against wildfire. Creating and maintaining defensible space around homes can improve the property’s likelihood of surviving a wildfire. Having defensible space also makes it safer for firefighters who may have to defend someone’s home. “Your roof is also critical,” said Ashford. “Embers can collect and ignite on the roof, in gutters and enter unscreened openings, like roof vents. Clear all leaves, pine needles and other flammable debris.” For more information on how to help your property survive a wildfire, visit www. westmetrofire.org.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING Wheat Ridge Police Offers Tips for Pet Adoption The Wheat Ridge Police Department Community Services Team is suggesting ways to help protect new pet owners who want to add a furry friend to the family this spring. This time of year potential pet owners begin looking to adopt a puppy or kitten, sometimes seeking out pure breeds online. WRPD offers some ways to make sure the new puppy fits well with the family, their new home as well as protect buyers from becoming the victim of a scam.

Before adopting/buying:

• Research the breed and the type of preferred home environment, activity level and temperament that will be the best fit for the family. • Ask a certified veterinarian for tips and suggestions on the breed that fits with the lifestyle of the family. • Consider adopting puppies from wellestablished shelters or rescue organizations. • Be cautious of free online ads selling puppies. They are often not legitimate breeders but simply turning a profit at the expense of both the puppy and the buyer. • Look for errors and inconsistencies in the seller’s information or in photographs posted online. • Be wary of prices for pure bred pets that are far below the market value. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. • Report cases of suspected fraudulent websites to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 877-FTC-HELP, 877-382-4357) or file an online complaint at http://ftc.gov

Buying from an online breeder:

• Consider professional assistance when buying online (e.g. puppy finder company). • Check the breeder’s background, examine the puppy’s health and verify the

puppy’s pedigree. • Meet the breeder in person • Ask for references from previous clients • Ask for personalized photographs of the puppy at different age ranges. Ask questions about its upbringing and the circumstances of the sale (where and when you will meet the dog and the breeder) • Sign a well-defined sales contract, that provides all the breeder and puppy information as well as a health guarantee • Good breeders will guarantee against health problems within the first several days after the transaction • Schedule a health inspection with a veterinarian for the new puppy immediately • Never wire money or send prepayment. Always use a credit or debit card or a check payment that can be stopped by the bank • If paying cash, payment receipts are a must. They should state all buyer/seller info, breed, color, gender, amount of the sale, as well as the addresses and phone numbers of the buyer and seller. • Don’t leave without written verification of the puppy’s health records.

Comments Wanted On Wadsworth Boulevard Widening from 35th Avenue to I-70 The City of Wheat Ridge has developed an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Wadsworth Boulevard widening project from 35th Avenue to I-70, which will be available for public viewing and comment through June 5. The city will also host a public meeting on Wed., May 22, from 5 to 8 p.m., with formal presentations at 5:30 and 7 p.m., at Wheat Ridge City Hall, 7500 W. 29th Ave. The Wadsworth Boulevard Widening

Project aims to make transportation improvements on Wadsworth Boulevard to improve traffic operations, provide critical pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and help to improve the overall look and feel of this important gateway into the City of Wheat Ridge. To fulfill the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an EA is prepared to identify all impacts related to a project. The assessment looks at the effects on both the community and natural resources. Factors that may be considered include land use, socioeconomic, noise, historic resources, air quality, wildlife, and water quality. The EA document, appendices, and technical reports are available online at www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/1517/WadsworthWidening. Hard copies are also be available for review at City of Wheat Ridge Municipal Building, 7500 W. 29th Ave.; Colorado Department of Transportation offices, 2829 W. Howard Place, Denver; and the Federal Highway Administration office, 12300 W. Dakota Ave., Suite 180, Lakewood. During the public comment period, the public is welcome to submit written comments regarding the EA at the review locations, at the public meeting, or by emailing them to: wadscomments@hdrinc.com. The EA was initiated in April 2016. The city aims to finalize the assessment in the summer of 2019, before moving into the right-of-way acquisition process, which will last until the spring of 2020, at which time construction is scheduled to begin.

Library’s Weekly MidMorning Meditation CallIn Program Begins June 5 Call-in from anywhere to reduce stress, quiet the mind, and set intentions as the Jefferson Center for Mental Health guides a

weekly wellness meditation. Each week, an instructor welcomes callers, sets intentions, and guides listeners through centering practices. The program begins Wednesday, June 5, and is hosted each Wednesday from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Suitable for adults and teens, no fees, no registration. Just call 303-502-5189 to participate.

West Side Brewery Bike Loop Features 5th Brewery The West Side Brewery Bike Loop returned, rolling out of WestFax Brewing Company the morning of April 27, bigger and better than its inaugural year in 2018. By adding a fifth brewery, bikers can now enjoy a longer and more diverse ride of West Denver craft breweries. “We’re excited to bring back the West Side Brewery Bike Loop to our community and customers,” said Brian Haitz, Marketing & Operations Manager from WestFax. “It was wildly successful last year and we wanted to build on that by expanding the loop by adding a fifth brewery and amping up our safety game at the same time. “We are also pumped to see the monthly themes this year, as each brewery leading their monthly group ride will get to choose.” The last Saturday of every month through September, the loop starts at 11:30 a.m. at one brewery and will roll on between Joyride, Hogshead, Oasis, Seedstock and WestFax Brewing Company. The 8.2-mile loop is a safely laid out route for cyclist to casually bike around the area and enjoy discounted beer while stopping at all five breweries along the way. It’s free for bikers. Attendees will need Continued on page 15

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WHAT’S HAPPENING Continued from page 14

to check in at either the guided loop launch site or at any participating brewery to receive their official wristband and stamp card the day-of each ride. The stamp card offers $1 off a short (810oz) pour upon each stamp per brewery. Complete the stamp card by finishing the loop for a free beer voucher at any of the four breweries any date after the ride. The breweries encourage bikers to go in groups (especially if starting from a nonofficial spot), to be sure that they have the appropriate safety equipment (helmets, reflectors, lights), and to make sure that their bikes are in safe working condition. It is also strongly advised to know your limits and be aware of your alcohol intake in order to stay safe while on your bike/roads. All the details about the monthly group rides, discounts, safety, and a digital version of the map layout (via Google Maps) can be found on at www.westsidebrewerybikeloop. com.

annual Carnation Festival Parade winners, per a City of Wheat Ridge press release. The top three designs will be awarded cash prizes and recognition in City and Carnation Festival literature and local media. The Festival will take place Aug. 9-11 in Anderson Park. Submission deadline is June 1. Entries will be reviewed by members of the Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission with recommendations to the Carnation Festival committee, which will make the ﬁnal selection. Winners will be announced on June 15. The Carnation Festival was started to commemorate the founding of Wheat Ridge in August 1969, and the awarding of the commemorative plate to parade winners is part of the tradition. Top entries into the parade receive commemorative plates for the best use of carnations, best overall and use of theme, best craftsmanship and workmanship. Entries must meet the submission guidelines to be considered. A copy of the plate is also presented to the city for display in the Council Chambers in City Hall.

Discuss ‘Wildfire’ At League of Women Voters Book Club

For more information about the contest, the festival, and a full schedule of festival hours and activities, visit www. thecarnationfestival.com.

The League of Women Voters of Jefferson County hosts a non-fiction book club with two meetings each month, in May discussing “Wildfire: On The Front Lines With Station 8,” a story of modern wildfire science interwoven with the history, landscape, and human behavior involved, based on the year journalist Heather Hansen spent with the City of Boulder Wildland Fire Division, Station 8. The club will meet Saturday, May 18, 9:30 a.m., at Brookdale Meridian Senior Living, 10695 W. 17th Ave., Lakewood. Open to the public. Call Lynne at 303-985-5128 for more information. There is no June book club meeting.

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Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival Calls For Artists, Offers Prizes Artists with a connection to Wheat Ridge are invited to create an image celebrating the city’s 50th anniversary to be featured on the commemorative plate presented to this year’s

School Crossing Continued from page 5

you not only experience the horrible events of that time, but understand the shame we take on as a society for having created that environment. Nothing close to that happens in a textbook. Hopefully many young students will be inspired by great history teachers and learn to be critical thinkers, forming opinions about the past as it relates to today’s values and celebrating the present but being mindful of the future. As we look back 50 years ago to the creation of Wheat Ridge and all the changes we are making now, how will these changes be judged 50 years from now? As always, thanks for reading. Contact Guy Nahmiach at Guy@NostalgicHomes.com or 303-999-5789.

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Mark your calendars now to join the celebration this summer at the 4th annual Jeffco Fair & Festival, Aug. 9 through 11 at Jefferson County Fairgrounds. The three-day event is Jeffco’s biggest celebration of the summer. Event dates and times are Friday, Aug. 9, noon to 10 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 10, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 11, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit CelebrateJeffco.com for details.

Volunteers Make Wheat Ridge Criterium And Brewfest Happen ■ By

Sally Griffin

n the morning of June 9, thousands will gather at the Wheat Ridge Criterium and Brewfest. Along 38th Avenue, there will be seats for fans to cheer on their favorite riders or simply to take in the excitement of bicyclists whirring past. But long before the attendees will pour their first cup of coffee or tea that morning, volunteers will have finished setting up barricades, tents, signage, tables and chairs to ensure everything is ready. Ashley Holland, marketing and events coordinator for Localworks, the Wheat Ridge-based community group that organizes the Criterium and Brewfest, explains how the physical setup for the day begins the Friday before the event. “We pick up the barricades and other race equipment from the Bicycle Racing Association,” says Holland. “On Saturday, we’re back out with our volunteers, setting up the tents and chalking the ground to let the brewers know which spot is theirs.” Those who have worked with the Localworks staff know how efficient the crew is; however, to prepare for the Criterium and Brewfest, which is expected to draw more than 6,500, Holland credits the people who help make it happen. “We rely so much on our amazing volunteers,” Holland says. “This year, we will have about 75 people assisting, and that’s outside of the other great folks that help us out, like the Wheat Ridge Police Department, and Wheat Ridge Public Works.” In addition to the help these groups provide, the event’s sponsors are also on hand to help. If you haven’t attended the Criterium and Brewfest, expect the day to deliver thrilling races with professional and amateur cyclists. This year, the organizers have switched up the actual race course so that it will end with a sprint to the finish along 38th Avenue.

Soon after the races have begun, the Brewfest and Outdoor Expo will open. This year, the Kids Zone also returns. Sponsored this year by Personal Achievement Martial Arts, the Kids Zone is a terrific option to keep the youngsters entertained. The Fun Ride is another option for families. It is also a big hit with many Criterium and Brewfest attendees, including Localworks’ Holland. “I love watching the racers, but it’s also cute to see little kids come out on their tiny little bikes riding with their families,” says Holland. “Riders range from kids about five years old, to adults in their 70s and even 80s.” Holland especially enjoys the way Fun Ride participants decorate their bikes and dress up for the event. Race spectators will be able to take a break from the sun under one of the many tents set up throughout the Brewfest, which will be located on High Court, right in front of the Grange and Wheat Ridge Cyclery. There will also be tents around the Kids Zone and Outdoor Expo, which will be in the Green in front of Stevens Elementary. Additionally, food trucks will be on site. Following is the timeline for the Criterium and Brewfest: • Pro & Amateur Racing, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. • Live Announcer & DJ Music, all day • Outdoor Expo, noon to 6 p.m. • Infinitus Fun Ride, 1:20 p.m. • Brewfest, noon to 6 p.m. • Kids’ Zone, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sponsors of the Criterium and Brewfest this year include the McDonald Group with KellerWilliams, VinylWorks, Infinitus Pie, Convergent Development, Wheat Ridge Cyclery, Zamudio Insurance Services and the City of Wheat Ridge. To learn more about the Criterium and Brewfest, or if you’re interested in volunteering for the event, visit www.ridgeat38. com/criterium/.

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RitualCravt Continued from page 1

traditional folk magic practices that were here before Christianity. “Big religion has suffocated practices that came before it. So much was lost, and witchcraft is a reclamation of what used to be. I’m seeing a lot of people who are reclaiming their own heritage, their ancestry, their familial practices.” RitualCravt teaches classes in beginning herbalism, tea-making, tinctures, spell work and Witch 101, a foundational class on what witchcraft is. They have meditation classes and intentional yoga. Outside of European witchcraft traditions, they teach other magical or spiritual practices, such as Curanderismo, a traditional Latin American healing led by a curandero, or shaman; authentic Native American spirituality and Santeria (worship of saints); deity worship; and a new class on African folk magic. Spells absolutely work, says Rhysing. “I believe you can have any intention and make it happen if you put enough of your own will into it. I can give you the example of my son, a few years back, having the same nightmare every night for about a week. I had him write out the dream on a piece of paper, and we rolled it up and bound it with thread, then we burned it and released it. Then we charged up a crystal – specifically an amethyst, which is really good for sleep and peace and overall general calm and wellbeing – that he slept with. That night he slept like a baby. We moved [the nightmare] out of

him.” Rhysing says witchcraft may appeal to people who have been through mainstream religions and found those didn’t appeal to them. “There are feminist aspects to it that may appeal to women. There’s an anti-patriarchal vein that runs through witchcraft, especially because it really began with women in marginalized communities. It’s open to the LGBTQ community, and it’s a path that isn’t filled with much dogma.” The Wicca religion was developed by Gerald Gardner, a Brit with an interest in paganism and the occult, in the 1930s, from aspects of the Old Religion. Influenced by Gardner’s work, Raymond Buckland, an emigre to the United States, was initiated into the Craft in the early 60s. “Wicca is based on a teaching of love for all life,” according to Buckland, author of “Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft,” published in 1986 and considered to be the work responsible for bringing greater awareness of the Old Religion. In 1986, Wicca was recognized as an official religion in the United States (Dettmer v. Landon). “I would liken Wicca to Witchcraft as Catholicism is to Christianity, if you will,” said Rhysing. “It has its own rituals, priests and priestesses, and has a specific way of doing things. A Wiccan can identify as a witch – many do – but does not have to, and a witch does not identify as Wiccan unless they follow Wiccan traditions and have Wiccan initiations. Although I am technically a firstdegree Wiccan, I do not identify as Wiccan because I do not practice Wicca traditions

any longer. We do not have a specific Wicca instructor at our shop, although I believe several of our teachers have practiced Wicca and have some knowledge about its teachings.” She said a common misunderstanding is the view that witches are part of an occult group, conjuring up evil. “Anything other than big religion can be thought of as being evil. But as people have become more educated on what witchcraft is and the fact that it’s really not scary, it’s getting bigger and bigger.” In his introduction to his book, Buckland states that witches are “intelligent, communityconscious, thoughtful men and women of today…[Witchcraft] is the acceptance of personal and social responsibility.” Sharing the building with RitualCravt is the second location of All Sacred Tattoo Studio – there’s one in Edgewater – owned by Aries Rhysing, Missy Rhysing’s husband. Six years ago, Aries Rhysing created the All Sacred Foundation. Last year, the Foundation raised over $32,000 in a day and gave 100 percent to six nonprofits that work with high-risk youth, animals in need, addicts in recovery, the homeless, and the Native population on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge reservation. “Now we can do these events together,” said Missy Rhysing. The Wheat Ridge grand opening of RitualCravt and All Sacred, which will include a plant sale, is May 18, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and May 19, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Learn more about magic at ritualcravt.com. “If you don’t believe in magic,” says Missy Rhysing, “then you’re never going to find it.”

Wadsworth EA Continued from page 1

enhanced amenity zones along the corridor, particularly in the City Center section between West 38th and West 44th avenues. Westberg said the project is funded mostly by federal grant money through the Denver Regional Council of Governments. Included in the estimated $40 million project is $6 million in local match money, consisting of a $2 million Colorado Department of Transportation grant, $4 million in CDOT capital construction funds and $2 million in city 2E bond funds, Westberg added. 2E funds come from a voter-approved half-cent city sales tax increase for projects to improve transportation infrastructure, create economic development opportunities and help attract more residents. Another $5 million grant for transportation improvement projects is scheduled to be awarded in August, Westberg added. A key part of the design is the use of continuous flow intersections (CFI) at Wadsworth and 38th and 44th avenues. CFIs are increasingly used around the country. In Colorado, they can be found in Durango and Loveland and will soon be built in Douglas and Arapahoe counties. CFIs are touted for their ability to help improve traffic flow and reduce congestion by 30 to 70 percent. The Environmental Assessment (EA) describes CFIs as “…an innovative design that improves safety and traffic operations by redirecting left-turns.” Instead of turning left from the center lane at intersections, left-turning vehicles cross the oncoming traffic lanes about a block before each intersection, then wait on the far left side of the road behind a raised median for a signal to turn when the through traffic is moving. Other than the displaced left turns, the two intersections would have conventional through lanes, northbound and southbound right-turn lanes and raised medians. Median signage would help drivers make their way through these intersections. All other intersections along the corridor would be conventional designs. CFIs work well because they allow more traffic to move at once, without conflict points in traditional interchanges, Westberg said. “You don’t have people turning left in front of stopped traffic and the left turners have almost as much time as the other green lights,” he added. “And if we can make that section of Wadsworth less congested, it will help the businesses in that area, although construction could be an issue for some.” The EA also noted the CFIs would require relocation of bus stops on Wadsworth at 38th and 44th avenues to the receiving lanes for right turns. This would allow standard curbside boarding and reduce the walking distance for the high volume of transfers to and from bus routes 38, 44 and 76. The design would place bus queue jump lanes next to pedestrian islands for both directions on Wadsworth at 38th and 44th avenues, the EA stated. The proposed project design is hoped to handle traffic and associated needs through 2040. Printed copies of the EA are available for review at the following locations: Wheat Ridge Municipal Building (printed copy and technical appendices), 7500 W. 29th Ave.; Colorado Department of Transportation offices, 2829 W. Howard Place, Denver; Federal Highway Administration, Colorado Division, 12300 W. Dakota Ave., Suite 180, Lakewood. A public meeting will be held Wednesday, May 22, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Wheat Ridge City Hall, 7500 W. 29th Ave., with presentations at 5:30 and 7 p.m. Written comments can be submitted at the meeting and through June 5 by email to wadscomments@hdrinc.com or mailed to Cristina Beermann, c/o HDR, 1670 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202. A final EA is expected to be issued this summer, with right-of-way acquisition through spring of 2020, followed by construction in 2020 until sometime in 2022. For questions and further information, contact Westberg at 303-235-2863.