NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Election Races Set for Wheat Ridge, School District Page 2
LOCALWORKS UPDATE Celebrating a Dedicated Volunteer – Becky Olstad
PEOPLE WE SHOULD KNOW Wheat Ridge Police Volunteer Judy Maxfield Page 16
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NEIGHBORHOOD
WHEAT RIDGE | APPLEWOOD | MOUNTAIN VIEW | LAKESIDE August 15 – September 18, 2017 • ngazette.com • FREE
RidgeFest Now Chock-Full of Chalk Art, Sept. 9 n By
Ashley Holland
A
Chalk Art Festival will be inaugurated at this year’s RidgeFest, Saturday, Sept. 9 from 3 to 9 p.m., in the heart of the Ridge at 38 district. RidgeFest is a free familyfriendly event highlighting the agricultural heritage and handmade/homemade appeal of Ridge at 38 and the entire Wheat Ridge community. In addition to the new festival, the event will feature four bluegrass bands, a classic car show, cottage food contests, an international heritage festival, vendors, food trucks, local beer and wine, and lots of kids’ activities. Wheat Ridge resident Olivia McLeod and her family will head up the Chalk Art Festival with the support of the Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission. McLeod has a passion for chalk art and recently won the People’s Choice award at the 2017 Denver Chalk Art Festival. The artists will work all morning and afternoon to create unique works of art. Between 3 and 6 p.m., RidgeFest attendees will witness the artists finishing their pieces. After 6 p.m., attendees can view the finished work. Quickdraw Homegrown Music will kick off the bluegrass Continued on page 4
CHECK OUT THE CHALK ART AT RIDGEFEST, Saturday, Sept. 9 from 3 to 9 p.m., in the Ridge at 38 district. This year the free family-friendly event boasts a Chalk Art Festival, including work by chalk artist Olivia McLeod. This drawing, inspired by original artwork by Czech painter Alphonse Mucha, was featured during the Denver Chalk Art festival earlier this summer. PHOTO COURTESY OF OLIVIA MCLEOD.
Farmers 5000 Fuels High School Academics, Sept. 17 n By
T
J. Patrick O’Leary
he start of the Wheat Ridge Farmers 5000 5k race will take place at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17, at Wheat Ridge High School, 9505 W. 32nd Ave. The classic road race raises over $20,000 each year for the school while promoting physical fitness and community spirit. The Farmers 5000 features a flat, fast course on neighborhood streets near the school. It typically attracts about 500 runners, and an equal number of volunteers, family members and spectators. The current course record and fastest-ever Farmers 5000 time is 15:19, set by Dewi Griffiths in 2013. The race includes an elementary school challenge to promote not only physical fitness in our youth, but to also promote a sense of community within all of Wheat Ridge. This year the businesses of Wheat Ridge can showcase their fitness and be part of a competition to be named the “Fittest on the Farm.” The Wheat Ridge business with the most employees registered and competing on race day will be awarded a Gold Level Sponsorship for the 2018 race, a $1,500 value. Fee is $25 per business. The cost for the run/walk is $35, with discounts for alumni ($33), and youth and Jeffco staff ($25). Fee for the Elementary School Challenge is $10, and the Fun Run, $5 (no t-shirt). There is a $100 cash prize for the firstplace overall male and female, and gift certificates from Runners Roost Lakewood for first and second runners-up. The top three male and female runners in all categories will receive a gift certificate from Apple Ridge Café; categories are 8 and
under, 9 through 12, 13 through 15, every five years thereafter, and 80 and over. All entrants are eligible for prize drawings at the race finish, courtesy of area businesses (but must be present to win). Early off-site registration is available Sept. 1 through 16 (noon) at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling, or Runners Roost Lakewood, 7978 W. Alameda. Participants can also register online
through midnight, Sept. 15; mail-in registration must be postmarked by Sept. 8. All mail-in registrations and online registrations made before 2 p.m. on Sept. 12 may be picked up at Wheat Ridge High School on the following dates: Wednesday through Friday, Sept. 13 through 15, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 16, 9 a.m. to noon; and race day. Sept. 17, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. The community event is organized and
carried out by volunteers, who perform planning and coordination as well as raceday logistics and operations. Volunteer information and sign up can be done online. Race participants are encouraged to park in the student lot on the north side of Wheat Ridge High School, at 35th and Holland Street; access is off of 38th Avenue, as 32nd Avenue will be closed to traffic. Visit www Farmers5000.org.
N E I G H B O R H O O D F E AT U R E
Painting Parties Uncork Creativity n By
Gwen Clayton
The concept of paint-and-sip parties sprung up several years ago as a way to combine instructional art with wine tasting. These types of parties have been popular for anyone looking for an interesting option for date night, girls night out or even corporate teambuilding workshops. Nicole Anderson is one of the instructors at Teller Street Gallery and Studios in Wheat Ridge. She's been leading step-by-step painting parties at the shop since 2012 and claims the designs are appropriate for all skill levels. “Being a teacher for five years, I kind of know how a beginner starts,” she said. Anderson holds a bachelor’s degree in fine art and has been teaching children’s art in after school programs in the Denver metro area for the past 10 years. At the Teller Street Gallery parties, she said some of the students’ favorite designs have been the Colorado flag, Denver skyline and the Red Rocks landscape. With Halloween coming up, she'll be working on some skull paintings and other haunted scenes. “People get to explore their creative sides,” Anderson said. “It’s just MERISSA FREUDIG SHOWS HER FINISHED DRAGrelaxing.” The paintings are done with acrylic paint so they dry quickly
ONFLY after July’s Paint at the Edge workshop at Edgewater Inn. PHOTO BY GWEN CLAYTON.
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