Neighborhood Gazette - May 2015 by Neighborhood Gazette

Wheat Ridge Opens its Newest Park see page 8

Blankets & Baskets: Picnics see page 10

Want to be Part of the Car Scene? see page 12

Gazette NEIGHBORHOOD

Wheat Ridge | Edgewater | MAY 15 – JUNE 17, 2015

Crit Bike Race Returns in June By Cyndy Beal

eep off the streets, sit on the sidewalks and watch the racers round the corners. The Ridge at 38 Criterium Bike Race returns for a second year on Sunday, June 7 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The start and finish lines will be in front of Wheat Ridge Cyclery (WRC) at High Court and 38th Avenue. The accompanying family-friendly festival is on the Green at Wheat Ridge 5-8 School, 7101 W. 38th Ave. The festival will feature live music, foods and other entertainment. Bike racers are advised to arrive an hour prior, at 6:30 a.m. In order to register and compete, racers are required to have a USA Cycling (USAC) license. All USAC rules apply. Bicycle Racing Association of Colorado (BRAC) membership is recommended to gain points for the Rocky Mountain Road Cup, a Colorado competition with multiple bike races, which starts in the spring and ends in the fall. The Ridge at 38 Criterium is a gold-level Rocky Mountain Road Cup road bike race. It's a closed circuit, 1.15-mile course or loop with six corners. There are 12 races and categories, and range in time from 40 to 55 minutes per race. The race course, primarily on residential streets, starts in front of WRC. The route includes High Court, 35th Avenue, Pierce Street, and sections of 38th Avenue and 39th Avenue. (Please see accompanying map for more detailed route information or visit http://ridgeat38.com/play/criterium/map/) Criteriums are short one-day races, with multiple laps, and are the most common type of American bike racing. They are often ridden on closed city streets. These races are around a mile or less for a single lap, and each

race usually lasts from one to two hours. They are extremely fast, with speeds of 30 mph and up according to the USAC website (www. usacycling.org/road-cycling-criteriums.htm). Criteriums are exciting and actionfilled not just for the riders, but also for the spectators as well. "You never know who's going to win the bike race," said Ron Kiefel, president and general manager of WRC, about criterium races. A rider in the lead often doesn't stay that way or hold the position for long. WRC is providing neutral support for the racers. In a criterium, a racer may win prizes or merchandise for winning a single lap. Kiefel also advised spectators to "keep your toes out of the road" and to "look down the road" to avoid colliding with riders on the course. In August 1973, Eugene Kiefel, Ron's father, bought a bike shop, later named WRC. As a matter of course, for a family-run business, family members have spent time working in the shop. Ron's mother, Nora, and his two sisters, Erlinda and Leona, all have worked at WRC. Kiefel himself is no stranger to road bike racing. Kiefel was the first American to win a stage in the Giro d’Italia and a Bronze medal in the 1984 Olympics for the team time trial. He raced in and completed seven Tours de France, and was U.S. National Road Champion in 1983 and 1988, per the WRC website. Last year’s criterium wasn’t a first for Wheat Ridge. The first was in 1982, followed by two others. However, this does mark the largest bike race for Wheat Ridge, entirely within its borders, with the possibility of hundreds of participating riders. To volunteer or learn more about the Ridge at 38 Criterium, go to http:// ridgeat38.com/play/criterium/

THE RIDGE AT 38 CRITERIUM BIKE RACE returns for a second year on Sunday, June 7 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The start and ﬁnish lines will be in front of Wheat Ridge Cyclery at High Court and 38th Avenue. The accompanying family-friendly festival is on the Green at Wheat Ridge 5-8 School, featuring live music, foods and other entertainment. Details: ridgeat38.com PHOTO: SHAWN CURRY

New Wheat Ridge Businesses By Cyndy Beal

evelopment and change does not always come without controversy—but with new builds and businesses moving into the city, change is afoot in an epoch sense.

A Tale Of Two Grocery Health Markets In May and June two new grocers arrive in the Wheat Ridge market, both on Kipling Street. Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers

The Robot Sculptor Next Door By Laura Poole

n a garage that smells like heat and burning metal stands 18-year-old robot sculptor Chris Mora in his welding gear, with the pieces of his most recent steel projects, entitled Number Eight and a model AT-AT from “Star Wars,” laid out on the ground. Seemingly reserved and quiet on the outside, Mora can actually talk for hours about his robots and yet only manages to share 90 percent of his passion in words; the rest is shown in his metal marvels. This young artist started bringing his imaginative robots to life a year and a half ago when drawing and painting them no longer sufficed. “It took me years to realize I didn’t like two-dimensional stuff,” said Mora. “I was making little sculptures out of pop cans and that’s part of it … I really wanted to SEE robots and the only way I could think of to do it was to draw them, but eventually I became so dissatisfied with the idea that I bought the welder.” His mother, Teresa, was concerned at first – as any mother of a young man who suddenly proclaims he’s going to start welding would be – but saw this was the path for him. “He’s always been artistic. It started when he was really young. I told him when he was 3 that I couldn’t build him Legos anymore, that he had to build them himself, and he’s been building ever since,” she said.

opens their new store on May 19 at 8 a.m., located at 4900 Kipling St., just south of I-70. To celebrate the grand opening, and in honor of the company’s 60th anniversary, the store is giving the first 60 customers mystery gift cards. The gift cards will be in the amounts of $5, $10, $25, $50 and $100. Customers will learn the amount of their gift card at check out. On Saturday, May 23 they are inviting the community to a block party and tasting event. This is the first of several events from May to June in celebration of their first store in Wheat Ridge. The Colorado-based company opened its first store in Lakewood and now has 96 stores in 16 states. A Sprouts Farmers Market opens Wednesday, June 24 at 7 a.m. This newly constructed 27,059 square foot store is located at 3725 Kipling St. It is the 17th Sprouts store in the Denver area. Headquartered in Phoenix Arizona, Sprouts has more than 200 stores in eight states. They are one of the largest natural grocers in the U.S. Sprouts is hiring around 100 full- and part-time employees for their new location. For more information or to apply go to https://www.sprouts.com/web/guest/ careers Continued on page 7

Continued on page 2 PHOTO: JOYCE JAY

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – MAY 15 - JUNE 17, 2015 – ngazette.com

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Nip the ‘Starker Plan’ in the ‘Bud’ Dear Editor, In the April 2015 edition of the Neighborhood Gazette, there was an article written about 38th Avenue and the call for a city center in lieu of the defeat of 2B by the voters. This new proposal has been made by one of the same members of city council who has advocated for the 38th Avenue road diet from the beginning and ignored compromise. It’s time to nip the so-called “Starker Plan” in the “Bud.” The options in the plan that have been proposed were already requested by citizens, business owners, councilmembers DiTullio and Urban for the past two plus years. Staff followed the same public process during the streetscape project from Sheridan to Harlan back in 2000. This plan is not the plan of one person – as touted by Joyce Jay in an election year. Calling the proposal by one council member’s name is just rubbing salt into the open wound of the people who went unheard for two plus years. The name of the proposal was coined in an election year to divert attention away from the fact that a majority of council would not listen or compromise on the road diet design of 38th Avenue. The lack of compromise caused the whole design (ballot question 2B) to be voted down by the voters in 2014. Remember, Pierce Street west was five lanes (two east, two west and a center turn lane), so a four-lane design

Mora Sculptures Continued from page 1

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Self-taught, Mora bought all his own equipment and materials and started to weld life-size robots ranging in height from his first of 4 feet to the 10-foot sculpture in his front yard. It didn’t take long before locals noticed his work and began to ask him for their own pieces. Mora says people would just walk up to his yard, admiring the giant sculptures out front, and begin talking to him about them. Soon he was making sculptures for residents of Wheat Ridge and making money, too, allowing him to further his passion and art. Currently he is working on a piece for local family Moria and Mike Howsare, the design for which he’d been wanting to do for a long time. Finally the opportunity presented itself and he sold them the idea to commission a robot designed after his first guitar. “He was much younger than I thought and was very articulate and enthusiastic about his work,” said Howsare. “We spoke a few times before I commissioned him to build me a robot, and settled on one he had already designed and was eager to build.” “This is a very special robot to me and I’m going to make sure they know that, Mike and Moria, when I give it to them,” said Mora. “I’ve been daydreaming about this sculpture in specific for years. It’s pretty much going to be exactly what I want. So I’m still sort of working for myself while getting paid; the best of both worlds.” Based on his guitar that he got when he was 14, Mora had originally made a painting of it before wanting to bring it to life. He told the couple that he could come up with another idea for them but that they would “have to wait a lot longer for me to come around with some fully fleshed-out designs.” “This was already worked out because I never stopped thinking about this sculpture,” said Mora. Luckily, the Howsares liked the idea and Mora began bringing his dream robot to life. Mora was always very creative as a child but he was particularly drawn to robots from a young age. One of his favorite movies, “The Iron Giant,” inspired and moved him to draw, paint and eventually sculpt these

would be a compromise and a win for everyone as long as there is a streetscape component with improved sidewalks, pedestrian lighting, landscaping, etc. The previous council (and this council) and city staff have worked in an echo chamber with regards to the redesign of 38th Avenue. I say this not to create waves, but to remind everyone that the greater community deserves more than one redesign option for 38th Avenue for comment and review. If just one option is presented to the public again, and people believe it came from just one member of council who supported the original road diet and supported 2B, all hell is going to break loose and nothing is going to ever get done. Communities should have leaders who listen, who are accessible, and who truly represent their communities. Collaboration and compromise will only be possible with everyone at the table. Good politics is good public policy and this proposal has already started off on the wrong track because many of the unheard voices still feel unheard. The public deserves choices. Let's get going and start working together without posturing. All suggestions/ options from the community should be considered. Lastly, council needs to remember they work for the public, not the city manager or city staff. Monica Duran, Vivian Voss, Wheat Ridge unique robots. He says all of his robots are sad and are created with something missing or off skew, like an arm or a broken kneecap, but are full of character and movement. He makes the connection with their eyes because that is where he sees them as more than inanimate objects, and he feels immense empathy for each and every one. “Some people wonder why I make robots instead of people, and I view it as a way of connecting to a life form. They have eyes. I can feel their emotion. It’s a weird thing to say but it’s also one of those eccentric artist things to say,” said Mora. “It’s a way to relate to conscious intelligent life forms that isn’t through people. It’s my way of feeling connected to something else that’s conscious, it’s dissociative.” Mora always encourages his buyers to commission a new piece since he says that is always his best work. Perfectionism and a strong drive to keep moving forward with his work keep him constantly striving for the best, although he does still have a place in his heart for his past pieces and he always learns from them. “I have a love of mechanisms. I’m also really, really organized and methodical. I do things in a very particular way and I think that’s one of the only reasons I’m able to do what I do. I don’t know anyone else that does what I do; that does the complexity of what I do,” said Mora. “I’m extremely proud of him,” said Teresa. “It’s pretty amazing to have an 18-year-old son who has that amount of talent and vision and is making it happen. To think that your child could eventually end up supporting himself just by doing something that he loves is pretty spectacular. Most people in life don’t get to do that.” “I think it’s so awesome to meet Chris and see that such a young man can have passion and drive for his art and work so hard to make a living at it,” said Howsare. “I felt like I had to encourage our local artist by buying one of his sculptures with hopes that this will enable him to continue his work and provide our community with another great citizen.” To see more of Mora’s sculptures visit his website at http://chrismoraart.tumblr. com/. For more information, email him at CMRobots@outlook.com or stop by his shop right across from Discovery Park.

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ngazette.com – MAY 15 - JUNE 17, 2015 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – MAY 15 - JUNE 17, 2015 – ngazette.com

EDGEWATER CITY NEWS The Saga of 20th and Depew in Edgewater By Joel Newton

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he pothole filled parking lot of the former King Soopers at the northeast corner of 20th Avenue and Depew Street holds a lot of stories as well as dreams for our community. With the exception of Depew Liquor and La Cascada, the retail stores sit vacant. The exterior shell of the vacant King Soopers is covered with painted-over graffiti. Residents are full of hope for the redevelopment of this property, yet what is its history? Stories begin with it once being a city dump, which might hold the remains of Roger the Elephant. The land is just south of Edgewater Elementary School, and longtime resident Pauline York remembers allowing local youth to ride go-carts through the field. Bill Bossert also remembers the site holding a combination of football, baseball and track fields for Edgewater High School in the 1950s. Home plate and the spectator stands were where Depew Liquor is currently located. Then in 1978 the land was purchased and King Soopers and became the anchor of what was then called Edgewater Village. As Edgewater grew and changed, King Soopers decided to vacate the property and move around the corner to Sheridan and 17th Avenue. The City of Edgewater purchased the property in 2004 for $1.6 million and it has sat vacant since. Since the city purchased the property there have been a number of ideas for

Joel Newton is Executive Director of the Edgewater Collective; contact him at joel@edgewatercollective.org or 303-7480631.

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redeveloping the property. The first was a $4.5 million Civic Center to be built by September 2005. It would have brought together Edgewater civic services including police, fire, public works, courts, council chambers and administrative office under one roof. The proposal did not gain traction, so the city moved on and worked with Ice Ranch for three years, trying to bring an ice rink to the area. Again, the hope was to move city services onto the property anchored by the Ice Ranch. But in June of 2011, Ice Ranch pulled out of the development because they lost funding. Now another developer, Trinity Development, is under contract to purchase the land from the city. Trinity has received a second contract year extension in the hope of finding an excellent anchor for the development. You can see the potential plans for the use of the land on their website, www.trinitydevelopment.net. Statements by Trinity Development representatives point to a “natural grocer” as an anchor as well as townhomes and apartments. These representatives say they are in the home stretch of finalizing the grocer for the space. Stay tuned over the next year to see what concrete developments are in store for this property at the northeast corner of 20th and Depew.

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“In all our deliberations we must be mindful of the impact of our decisions on the seven generations to follow ours." (That is where the cleaning and personal product company Seventh Generation took their name.) That is a powerful message. What if we operated that way; what if we thought about the lives of our great great great great great great grandchildren before making any significant decision? Does that clarify what sustainability means? Probably a bit. Try this one: “To be as we can always be.” So, if we are sustainable, it means we can live that way, with all the inputs and outputs, forever. To test this, draw a box around your house, your shoe collection, your car, your workplace including your commute, etc. Then draw all the inputs including water, energy, fuel, food, chemicals, raw materials, products, people, money, etc., on one side. Draw all the outputs on the other side, including air and water emissions, trash,

products, money, etc. Next, sit back and look at the simplified equation you made. Do the inputs equal the outputs? Assigning actual values to these inputs and outputs requires a complex project called a lifecycle analysis, but you can get a pretty good feel for how sustainable you are by just looking at your equation. Now think about the 7+ billion people on the planet. The dream of each family living on a self-sufficient homestead is just not possible, let alone sustainable, with our global population. Cities are much less resource intensive overall. This is not meant to intimidate you with the complexities of sustainability, but is instead meant to help us all speak the same language so we can all get better together. Individual and even small actions do matter and lead us toward more sustainable lives. As we understand and learn from those small changes, we take bigger and more significant actions. Those are what add up. As one my favorite characters said, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not” (the Lorax from Dr. Suess). I once worked for a guy that laughed when people said, “Save the planet.” He said that the planet will be fine eventually. It is us that we need to save. If you’d like to hear more about what your neighbors are doing to be more sustainable, join us at the next Wheat Ridge Sustainability meeting June 4th. For more information, contact Guy Nahmiach at guy@NostalgicHomes.com or 303-9995789.

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ngazette.com – MAY 15 - JUNE 17, 2015 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

EDGEWATER CITY NEWS Governing During Prosperity looking good. So now what? When times are hard we come together and drill down to what ight now it appears Edgewater is doing is important. When our basic needs are well. After lamenting our need for a taken care of the priorities become more health care provider last month I’ve even blurred. How do we support the wishes of learned that we actually have one near individuals without possibly infringing on Target. But I’m still hoping for a Trader the rights of their neighbors? For example, Joe’s. should Edgewater allow farm animals next For years city officials have struggled door to those who enjoy city living? How with sustaining our city. Providing adequate about limiting parking to encourage fewer equipment for our volunteer firefighters and cars? Are pot shops good for revenues our public works department or bad for our community? was becoming impossible. With Should landlords have limited funding our traditional different property maintenance July 3rd fireworks display standards than homeowners? became too big to assure the How do we as legislators public’s safety. Something as balance emotional and personal basic as maintaining water and preferences with what is best sewer service was stretching our for the whole? Governing resources to the limits. during prosperity starts with After lots of discussions, understanding what folks want many of which lasted for years, to do for themselves and what hard decisions were made. they want government to do We are all better for it. Our Bonnie McNulty for them. Edgewater has always fire protection ISO rating has encouraged public comments at all public improved from a Class 6 to a Class 2, meetings. If you have something on your resulting in quick response time and reduced mind, let us know. homeowner’s insurance rates for many of I’m still serving coffee and tea us. Our contract with Republic Service kept Wednesday mornings from 9 to 11 at us from having to buy new trash trucks Target’s Starbucks, and Thursday evenings and gave Edgewater a successful recycling before city council meetings. Thursday program. Through the careful planning of coffees start at 6:15 p.m. in City Hall and are our city manager, with council's support, often attended by several council members. we have been able to repair and upgrade If you‘d like to meet at another time please our entire water and sewer systems. Thanks call or email and I will arrange a time more to council’s continued focus on taking care convenient for you. of the bare necessities, we now enjoy the Contact Edgewater Mayor Bonnie Mcbenefits of a full-time code enforcement Nulty 303-233-6216 or bjmcnulty2@comofficer and our own city planner. Our city cast.net. is cleaner and economic development is

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EDGEWATER CITY COUNCIL Edgewater: The City of Choice, Moving Forward pathways for implementation of our goals. We are devoted to making this city the best it can and will be. ave you been paying attention? We consider past and present to Edgewater is a hot commodity as the plan our future. Council's current goals metro housing market expands and moves are to: 1) Maintain Edgewater as a city west. Many of us saw this movement on the with financially sustainable assets and horizon some time ago. There is no stopping quality service delivery; 2) Align the city's this phenomenon – Edgewater is one of the recreational, educational, and cultural happening cities. programs with the needs and Our city staff, council, desires of the community; and and boards and commissions 3) Implement a land use policy have been planning for these that will encourage economic changes and their consequential development that enhances the growth for many years. With the quality of life. guidance and experience of our Only a little over a square mile city manager and a staff aware of in size, Edgewater packs quite a the ever-changing demographics punch. We have a population of and needs of our citizens, our 5,170 (2010 Census) with 2,060 city's journey has been paved living in owner occupied units with careful preparation and and 3,110 in rental units. We in-depth deliberations. These Laura Keegan have three public schools; five plans have also involved and churches and ministries; a mix of included the voices of our citizens about 27 restaurants, pubs, bars and coffee in numerous citywide planning meetings, shops; and approximately 68 service and surveys and discussions. retail businesses, ranging from child care, We are innovative, bold and dedicated health and wellness to larger chain stores. in our path to becoming a city “Where All within walking distance! Families Choose to Live, Grow and Stay.” Edgewater is changing almost weekly This is Council's statement for our goals as our demographics and our needs morph. and objectives. These goals and objectives We have a blend of well-rooted citizens are posted on the wall in Council Chambers. and those moving here with fresh ideas With each goal we have action items to and the desire to make Edgewater their define and direct us to reach these goals. home. As the next few years progress, we All are carefully thought out, discussed, will be forever changed. With well-defined and reviewed. We are continually aware of goals and careful evaluations, our actions the growth and ongoing changes in our city. will move us to become the city where our Every six months, we, the Council, evaluate, citizens and businesses can put down roots cross off our successes, add to and revise and choose to live, grow and stay. our goals. We work as a team to meet our city's challenges. With the counsel of our Edgewater Councilwoman Laura DOLA representative, our City Manager, Keegan can be reached at 303-232-0745 our City Attorney and other professionals, or lkeegan@edgewaterco.com. City Council has carefully brainstormed

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SCHOOL CROSSING Learning to Let Your Kids Fail have picked a better ambassador. Also at PV, Cara Jakob, this year's PTA President, has been hired as the school's t hurts me just to write the title of this Parent/Community Liaison. Tasked with column! generating more parent participation and There comes a time in your life as providing helpful resources to parent, where you need to let families in need, this is another your child fall and get back up example of Jeffco hiring the best on their own. Whether it's at possible person from within the soccer practice or on their math community. homework. With regular updates, Mike But how wrong is it to Collins, Principal at PV, has been protect their innocence a doing a great job keeping parents little longer? I can hear the informed of staff changes this old-school thinkers out there year. saying, "How are they supposed Just down the street, to learn?" "That's how they get Kullerstrand has also hired tough!" and other wonderful Guy Nahmiach someone as parent liaison – life lessons my dad would share welcome Sean Burnham, who will over long-distance Sunday calls. begin this coming school year. Many would argue that it's much Looming over us of course is still harder to be a kid today. The Internet has the teachers’ union negotiation with the created an entire world for kids to explore, board regarding raises and new contracts. get lured by products and people with bad Agreement was achieved over teachers intentions, without their parents or teachers evaluated as "not effective" not eligible having a clue. It's altered their means of for a raise, although the sticking issue is communication into single-syllable words in regards the "partially effective" status. that have replaced entire sentences. Texting The case is in court right now. Though it and emails have reduced their ability to have does make me think that as consumers we a meaningful face-to-face conversation. are entitled to know if a lawyer or doctor Teen suicide attempts keep climbing. has been sued or his license suspended. Socioeconomic situations are keeping Should parents have the right to know if the parents away from home for longer stretches teacher providing an entire grade's worth of every day. Even schools are made to education is an effective one? accommodate such situations: Pennington As we close out the year the enrollment Elementary has requested a 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. numbers are starting to surface. Next schedule, taking care of kids for 12 hours month I'll be looking into trends across and providing three meals a day. our articulation area. Interesting data is I want to make every moment with showing growing numbers over at Drake. my child count and have as many of those For the first time, no wait list at Manning. moments as possible. Prospect Valley will be losing many My favorite sixth grade teacher – well advanced learners who are opting to finish actually she was Danielle and Dylan's but we the sixth grade over at Bell. The STEM all learned from her – is Ms. Rutledge. She program has pulled students from all over. asked me once if I was a helicopter parent. Naturally trend has many variables, and I always seemed to be around. The funny will likely cause tremors up the education thing is that by grade six Danielle didn't chain here in Wheat Ridge, from Everitt and even want to wait for the car to stop before further down to Wheat Ridge High. Have running off to her class. That’s contrary to you made a similar choice for your student? Dylan, who I would stand in line with along I'd love to hear you reasons. Please call or with his friend Grant (who by the way with email me with your story. Basil was absolutely amazing at the Everitt Enjoy the last few weeks. If you have Talent Show last week). decided to join Everitt next year, PTA Rutledge incidentally is moving on positions need to be filled. If ever you were from Prospect Valley to be a coordinator going to get involved, now is the time. at Outdoor Lab. Talk about a dream job. If As always, thanks for reading. you've ever had any doubts about the use of Contact Guy Nahmiach at 303-999this incredible outdoor learning experience, 5789 or Guy@NostalgicHomes.com. just spent 10 minutes with her. They couldn't

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THEY CAN WALK MILES AND MILES In April, Compass Montesori grade-school students (left to right) Bryan, Michael, Cade, Kayla, Michael and Erin reached a milestone of walking a total of 126-miles. Starting in the fall of 2014 the group began making the morning trek together to school, as part of the “Walking School Bus.” Every walk has at least two parents in tow. PHOTO: CYNDY BEAL

Have a news tip or story idea? Send it to editor@ngazette.com For advertising information contact Tim Berland 303-995-2806 • tberland@ngazette.com

ngazette.com – MAY 15 - JUNE 17, 2015 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

MEDICALLY SPEAKING Stroke – Faster Treatment Can Lead to Faster Recovery accredited stroke centers, like Lutheran Medical Center, there are detailed processes in place to streamline treatment of stroke hen the blood supply to part of the patients. brain is cut off, that area stops working With the understanding that millions and the person experiences a stroke. Stroke of neurons in the brain are destroyed every is a medical emergency that affects nearly minute during an acute stroke, these centers 800,000 people in the United States and are especially equipped to treat is the No. 1 cause of disability. a stroke quickly and safely. The Unfortunately, even with this faster a stroke patient gets the high rate of occurrence, 37 medication they need, the better percent of all Americans cannot the outcome. correctly identify one warning Risk factors for stroke sign of a stroke. can be split into two groups. Would you be able to Modifiable factors are those recognize the warning signs you have control over, such as of stroke if you saw them? high blood pressure, diabetes, They can be easy to spot by smoking, obesity, inactivity, remembering the word F.A.S.T. diet, drug/alcohol abuse, heart F: Face - Look at the disease, and high cholesterol. person’s face to see if one side Dr. Russell Bartt Non-modifiable risk factors are is drooping. those you don’t control, such as age, family A: Arms - Ask the person to hold their history, race, gender, and prior stroke or arms up in front of their body and look for heart attack. Talk with your doctor to find drifting down in one arm. out how you can manage or minimize your S: Speech - If someone is having a risk for stroke. stroke they often have trouble with wordRemember the acronym F.A.S.T.: Face, finding or their speech is slurred. Arms, Speech, and Time. If you think you or T: Time - If you think someone is someone you know is experiencing stroke having a stroke call 911 and get help. symptoms, call 911 and get help FAST! The faster someone gets to the hospital, Dr. Russell Bartt is a neurologist with the more likely they are to be candidate Lutheran Medical Center and Blue Sky for treatment that can help reverse the Neurology. symptoms of a stroke. At Joint Commission

By Dr. Russell Bartt

New Business Continued from page 1

Local Business Update The new Starbucks, complete with drivethrough, opened their new store on the southwest corner of 38th Avenue and Kipling St. the beginning of May. This marks a return of a Starbucks to the corner. Mighty Joe’s Kitchen at 10160 W. 50th Ave., opened in April. The restaurant describes themselves as serving authentic homemade Italian cuisine is open six days a week. For more information and hours go to http://www.mightyjoeskitchen.com, or call 303-425-4200. Pierogies Factory at 3895 Wadsworth Blvd. opened in April. The restaurant describes themselves as a casual restaurant serving Polish pierogis is open seven days a week. For more information and hours go to http://www.pierogiesfactory.com or call 303425-7421. Grizzly Creek Framing has moved

from Arvada into Wheat Ridge. They are a custom framing shop. They are located at 4910 Iris St., next to Brunswick Lanes. For more information go to http://grizzlycreekframing. com or call 303-425-9653. Devion Gaddy has joined Fido’s Grubn-Tub Grooming Salon, 8883 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge. Gaddy has 18 years of grooming experience and has groomed in Florida, California and Colorado, most recently at Kriser's in Englewood. “He has a very gentle approach and is excited to work in a cage-free salon where the emphasis is on providing safe, stress-free grooms for all sizes and ages of dogs,” said Prudence Schultz-Burrey of Fido’s. To celebrate Gaddy’s joining the salon, Fido’s is offering 10 percent off grooming for all new customers. Current clients may participate in a Frequent Groomer program that rewards regular grooming with a free groom. For more information, call 303-4633302 or visit www.fidosgrubntub.com. For questions or comments about this story or to tell us about a business we missed, email editor@ngazette.com

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WHEAT RIDGE CITY COUNCIL Being Honest and Open to Compromise on 38th let’s all be honest about our answers. I think some important questions are: what do we want to accomplish at and on he upcoming discussions about the the corridor? How do we want the street to next steps on 38th Avenue present a perform? What do we want it to feel like? great opportunity to achieve a consensus Now I realize that we may disagree on on our vision and a compromise on how the answers to these questions, but I suspect we implement it. I am ready for that, and that we have more consensus than dissent. I think others are, too. So, before we get to Where we can make progress work, I have been reflecting on is being open to compromise where we have been, and more as we figure out the answers importantly how we might to these questions, and how to frame some of the decisions implement a designed solution. ahead of us. If we say for instance that we There is a lot of good want a section of this corridor work behind us, and we face a to be inviting and accessible to renewed discussion. We have pedestrians, we should be ready been thinking, talking about, to accept improved sidewalks designing, implementing, and as part of the solution. We may voting for or against issues also have to make a reasonable related to 38th Avenue for more compromise about how much than 10 years. Along the way George Pond space is absolutely necessary to the entire community has been accomplish our goals. Maybe it’s not always invited to participate and yet it is important a 10-foot-wide sidewalk with a six-foot to acknowledge that from time to time planting buffer. I may not get some of the during this long engagement there has not things that I envisioned for the street, and been consensus, and in fact at times there that’s OK. has been considerable disagreement. There has been a call for renewed civic And now as we pick this up again, we are engagement and collaboration. I personally pressed with a lot of questions: What is the want to answer that call, and I don’t think I cost? Why reduced traffic lanes? Is the street am alone. I look forward to all sides of this going to be returned to what it was before? issue rolling up their sleeves, setting aside Didn’t anyone get my suggestion? recent disagreements and getting to work. In There have been several comments the end, 38th Avenue will be a better place. and requests from both sides of the debate George Pond is Wheat Ridge City asking for answers and dialog. I don’t Council Member of District III, and can be think that we should ignore these requests, contacted at gpond@ci.wheatridge.co.us however, I think that it is important to get to or 303-880-8729. some foundational questions first, and then

By George Pond

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he newly formed Discovery Park Task Force met on April 30; District III Council Members George Pond and Tim Fitzgerald, Mayor Joyce Jay, Police Chief Dan Brennan, Wheat Ridge Parks & Rec staff and commissioners, as well as some concerned citizens attended and discussed the growing incidents of graffiti, smoking, vandalism, profanity and verbal abuse of park users. Last month I wrote about the increased complaints from neighbors and parents who no longer took their kids to the park. The complaints had made their way to city council and the mayor. I decided to go and spend a few hours at Discovery. I spoke with a mother watching her children on their scooters. She told me that besides the constant smoking (tobacco and marijuana), what upsets her most was really the "huge amounts of profanity" that children were "exposed to in the park on a daily basis.” I asked another parent if he thought shutting down the skate park would solve the problem. He was adamant that this would only punish his son and his friends that used their scooters in the park every day. In speaking with a few kids at the gazebo I learned that a large number of them don't even live in Wheat Ridge or attend one of our schools. They travel by car or bus from Lakewood, Golden and Denver Northwest. They spoke about the presence of gang

members and drugs in Discovery Park. It dawned on me that these kids (1617) hadn't broken any laws. Smoking is not against the law and neither is profanity. Smoking pot in public is illegal, but without any law enforcement present, there's not much that can be done. The task force discussed the many issues revolving around Discovery Park and agreed to invite the community into the conversation and process. A meeting has been called for June 9, 7 p.m., at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center. Neighbors, park users, high school students, hipsters, boring dads, politicians and city staff – everyone and anyone who cares about the park – should attend.

Wheat Ridge Opens its Newest Park A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held May 2 to open Hopper Hollow, Wheat Ridge’s newest park. A citywide contest produced the name, which will be just as meaningful in 50 years as it is today. Located at Kendall Street and 44th Avenue, the small neighborhood park residents features a playground, basketball practice court and grass for simply relaxing, within walking and biking distance for locals. Guy Nahmiach is the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman and District III Representative.

ngazette.com – MAY 15 - JUNE 17, 2015 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

WHEAT RIDGE 2020 UPDATE

URBAN PERSPECTIVE

TLC Wheat Ridge Expands Through Neighbor Power

Summer Festival Season Begins!

patrols to the area and sent bike patrol officers to add extra support in the summer. Community Service Officers reached out riving up and down every street of to residents with properties adjacent to Wheat Ridge will teach you a lot about alleys and Wheat Ridge 2020 coordinated the community. You can see some of the dumpsters to be dropped off for Clean Up hidden gems and some of the hidden junk. Days. With a 37-year career in law enforcement, City departments responded to all with the Wheat Ridge Police Department, neighborhood issues and Wheat Ridge Commander Wade Hammond has seen 2020 helped sponsor quite a bit. neighborhood block parties. “When I was a young officer in Within two years, east the 1970s and 1980s, I loved the Wheat Ridge had its crime east side of Wheat Ridge the most. rate to those of comparable It has nice homes, trees and classic neighborhoods. neighborhoods,” said Hammond. Based on the success of the “In 2008, I was driving around east Wheat Ridge program, the east Wheat Ridge and things just City of Wheat Ridge and the didn’t look as good as they used City Council have expanded to.” the program and have named He went back to his office it TLC Wheat Ridge – Traffic and ran statistical crime reports Wade Hammond safety, Life quality and Crime for the area. East Wheat Ridge, reduction. the area approximately between Harlan The program is being offered in the and Sheridan in the City of Wheat Ridge, Clearvale neighborhood, which is Brentwood had crime rates three times higher than Street west to Garrison Street and West comparable residential neighborhoods. 44th Avenue to I-70 Frontage Road, and the Hammond developed a community Clear Creek Station neighborhood, which is oriented policing project to help address the Harlan Street west to Pierce Street and 44th issues he had uncovered. The Wheat Ridge Avenue north to West 48th Avenue. Police Department reached out to other All involved have high hopes for more city departments and outside partners like great results powered by neighbors coming Wheat Ridge 2020 and LiveWell Wheat together to help find solutions. Ridge. “I had the first kernel of the idea and “At the sunset of my career it is great it grew and improved as great people came to be able to say I was a part of something together,” said Hammond. that will last in the community and make it Community meetings were held in 2009 healthier,” said Hammond. to capture the thoughts and ideas of the For questions or comments about this neighbors, and partners helped to address story, email editor@ngazette.com what was discussed. The police increased

By Britta Fisher

is free to attend, the fun will begin each night at 5 p.m. at the Saints Peter and Paul Parish parking lot at 3900 Pierce St. I am ow that the rain has finally stopped, the really hoping you can make it down to the summer festival season is just around festival to meet your neighbors and enjoy a the corner. The Wheat Ridge Carnation good time. You can learn more information Festival is shaping up to be another great about the festival as the date comes closer by time with festivities kicking off on Aug. 14 visiting www.facebook.com/SSPPfestival. If through 16. you are interested in becoming a sponsor for The 46th Carnation Festival Parade this festival, there are still sponsorship slots will take place on Saturday, Aug. 15 from available. 9:30 to approximately 11:30 If you are interested in a a.m. As part of the tradition unique festival opportunity, and history of the Wheat Ridge consider attending the Jeffco Carnation Festival, the selection Open Space Wildflower Festival committee once again is seeking on June 14. This festival will be nominations for the 2015 Parade held at the Lookout Mountain Royalty. Parade Royalty is made Nature Center and Preserve. up of three deserving members Come out to help celebrate of the community who have the incredible diversity and demonstrated a commitment importance of native wildflowers to make Wheat Ridge the best through fun activities for the place to live, work and play. Zach Urban whole family. Explore stations Please send your nominations to on wildflowers and pollinators, learn to Steve Keller skeller@prodigy.net. identify invasive weeds, listen to a plant If you just can’t wait till August to get story, enjoy a wildflower hike, and browse your festival fix, the Saints Peter and Paul the native plants available for sale. Kids can Parish at 39th and Pierce Street has just make crafts and watch a puppet show. For the ticket for you. On June 26, 27 and 28 more information about and directions to the parish will be hosting a community Lookout Mountain Nature Center visit their festival. This annual festival has proven to webpage at lmnc.jeffco.us. be a great time for the whole community to If a bicycle festival is more your speed, come together. This is one of the most kiddon’t forget to attend the Ridge at 38 friendly festivals in the area. There will be Criterium June 7. The Ridge at 38 Criterium plenty of fun for the whole family. There will is a USA Cycling-Sanctioned race in the be plenty of choices of food, beer, wine, and Rocky Mountain Road Cup race series. There soda. There will be rides for the kids, games will be plenty of family friendly festivities all of chance for the adults including bingo, a along 38th Avenue following the race. $2,000 cash raffle, and other fun games. Zachary Urban can be reached at 720There will be a car show with a variety of 252-5930 or www.zacharyurban.com. trucks, cars and motorcycles. The festival

By Zachary Urban

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NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – MAY 15 - JUNE 17, 2015 – ngazette.com

HOME, GARDEN & LIFESTYLE

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STUDENTS REVIVE THE GREENBELT: Wheat Ridge High School Career Exploration Classes spent April 17 and 24 on the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt building new tree protection from wildlife, planting trees, pulling weeds, planting seeds and flowers and digging fence post holes, alongside Parks & Rec staff and IES. Pietras Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant provided lunch following the work. PHOTO: JERRY DITULLIO

Passport to Health a Ticket to Senior Fun, Fitness Colorado Senior Connections Wheat Ridge and Edgewater invites Seniors 60 and up to make this summer the healthiest ever through Passport to Health. Seniors sign up and receive a free water bottle and Passport card information on suggested activities. At the end of the summer (Sept. 3), participants are invited to an afternoon Summer Passport to Health Finale Dance Party, featuring music from the ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s at the Richard Hart Estate, 28th Avenue and Ames Street.

“Basically we want as many seniors as possible to register, get a free water bottle and go out and be active and fun this summer,” said Alison Joucovsky of Colorado Senior Connections Wheat Ridge and Edgewater. “We will have a list of ideas of activities and lots of walks – walk with a Do, walk with a cop, history walk at Crown Hill, nature walks with your grand kids – to support a healthy active summer.” Seniors can register and pick up their water bottle and card at the Wheat Ridge Municipal Building, 7500 W. 29th Ave.; Seniors Resource Center, 3227 Chase St.; Continued on page 11

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as fast food taken the place of the all American picnic? I guess I may be showing my age when I talk about picnicking. I’m not sure many of this new generation has experienced a true picnic. In our vintage finds we often run across the infamous picnic basket or even little picnic sets that snap and strap all the picnic paraphernalia together. We recently received a gift of a backpack/duffel bag on wheels with all the utensils in it for a picnic. I’m beginning to think maybe the picnic basket has gone the way of luggage that one has to carry rather than rolling. I suppose everyone has a different idea of what a picnic entails, but here are a few things I think are necessary to have an “oldfashioned” picnic: The best picnics are done under a huge shade tree, on a family blanket, on the ground. It’s always a treat to be looking at something picturesque although sitting on the ground gives one a totally different perspective of any view.

By Jeanne Nichols

What about the food? Well, many of my early picnic memories involved cold fried chicken (not sure if it was “cold” but it definitely wasn’t hot by the time we got there). Of course peanut butter and jelly and other varieties of the basic sandwich, macaroni salad, etc. We brought our Melmac plates, plastic glasses and flatware from which to eat. These were not things that were tossed, but were loaded back up when ready to leave. Lemonade or iced tea was the drink of the day. We would make it a bit strong so that as the ice melted it would water it down and cool it off. And this is where the use of those large wide-mouth Thermos bottles came in. Dessert? Well, it was usually watermelon or wonderful home made cookies. One thing I remember particularly was when we left the picnic area there wasn’t any trash. It all went back into the containers (maybe Tupperware, maybe not) and packed into the picnic basket (a large woven carrier) to be cleaned up at home. Nowadays with picnic tables, barbecue grills and local fast foods close to most parks I guess the outing I described above sounds pretty old fashioned. I have so many fond memories of these times with my grandparents, no phones, no texting, just laying together on the blanket guessing the shape of the clouds and maybe even taking a quick nap that I think I should introduce the grandkids to this great little adventure. The month of May could just be the right time for an old-fashioned picnic.

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ngazette.com – MAY 15 - JUNE 17, 2015 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

WHAT’S HAPPENING Continued from page 10

Edgewater Municipal Building, 5901 W. 25th Ave.; or any local Colorado Senior Connection community office. The program is sponsored by the City of Wheat Ridge and City of Edgewater. For more information, visit www.EdgewaterSeniors.org or www.WheatRidgeSeniors.org, or call 720-763-3042.

Rockies Baseball Skills Challenge at Panorama Park June 3 Kids 6-13 can compete in throwing, hitting and running bases, in separate girls’ and boys’ divisions in the Rockies Baseball Skills Challenge at Panorama Park, W. 35th Avenue and Fenton Street, June 5, starting at 9 a.m. Winners qualify for a chance to compete in a regional and then a state championship and get to attend a Colorado Rockies game. The free event is sponsored by the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department and the Colorado Rockies. Sign up by Wednesday, June 3. Forms are available at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center or by email. For more information, contact Robin Lofton at 303-231-1312 or rlofton@ ci.wheatridge.co.us.

Your Two Cents Wanted on August RTD Changes RTD will hold public meetings in May and June to inform the public of the proposed changes and obtain input that will be summarized and reported to the RTD Board of Directors. Attendance at public meetings is not required to comment, and you may fax your comments to 303-299-2227 or email to service.changes@rtd-denver.com no later than June 4. The nearest public meeting will be held in Lakewood at the Clement Center, 1580 Yarrow St., Wednesday, June 3 at 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.rtddenver.com.

Open House, Swap Meet Coming Up at American Legion Find out what the American Legion is and what they do when American Legion Post 17 holds an open house, Saturday, June 20, noon to 4 p.m., at 1901 Harlan St., Edgewater. There’ll be a chance to sell stuff you don’t need anymore to people who don’t have enough when the Post hosts a Swap Meet, Saturday, June 6. Booth space is $10; reserve yours now, as booths are first-come, first-served. If you’re looking for a local venue for your next social event, the Legion does rent out its hall, which features: capacity for 125, a stage, dimmable lights, projection screens and plenty of parking. Catering and linen rental is also available. For more information, email Lynn Cody at 303-238-2401 or mlrcody@outlook.com.

Wheat Ridge Garden Tour Needs Gardens and Volunteers, July 11 Is the focal point of your garden a stunning perennial, annual or xeriscape garden? Does your yard feature a winding pathway, water feature, gazebo, outdoor room, sculpture or other unique architectural feature? If you want to showcase your garden on this year’s Wheat Ridge Garden Tour, scheduled for Saturday, July 11, contact Milly Nadler at 303-319-0690 or wheatridgegardentour@ gmail.com. Recommend your neighbor’s garden and, if it’s on the tour, you’ll receive a free ticket. Volunteers are needed to check tickets at the homes on the tour. All help is

greatly appreciated. To volunteer or for more information, contact Mariann Stork, mstorckco@comcast.net.

Summer Art Clubs for Kids at Teller Street Teller Street Gallery and Studios will be offering summer art activities for children at its Wheat Ridge digs, 7190 W. 38th Ave. Tweens and Teens teaches various techniques with different projects and instructors every week on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons in June and July. Small class sizes allow individual attention. Projects include oil painting, charcoal sketching, watercolor painting, mosaic tile art, bookmaking, wire sculpture and acrylic painting. Classes are priced individually and sixclass discount punch cards are available. Projects are designed to be completed in one class. Ages 9 and up. For more information, call 303-424 9273 or visit www.tellerstreetgallery.com

Book Club Kits Now Available at Your Library Jefferson County residents can check out book-club kits for up to six weeks from the Jefferson County Public Library, at

no cost. Each kit includes up to 10 copies of a popular book and a guide to facilitate discussion. Seventy different book titles are available, including such popular book-club titles as: • “All the Light We Cannot See,” by Anthony Doerr • “The Arsonist,” by Sue Miller • “The Fault in Our Stars,” by John Green • “The Goldfinch,” by Donna Tartt • “Unbroken: a World War II Story of Survival,” by Laura Hillenbrand “These kits are great for members of existing book clubs who don’t want to have to purchase books, or for start-up clubs who want to see what book clubs are all about,” said Pam Nissler, JCPL executive director. “Summer is a great time to kick back, read and visit with friends, and we hope these kits will help to facilitate that.” The kits are being made available through the Jefferson County Library Foundation. Kits can be placed on hold and sent to any location to be held for pick-up. Residents can check out a book-club kit by accessing the library’s online catalog at Jeffcolibrary.org and doing a word search for “book club kits.”

WHEAT RIDGE RESIDENTS HEIDI DONAT (left) and Caroline Mallory were honored, along with Wheat Ridge Active Adult Center’s Lois Eaton (right), at the Jefferson County Volunteer Connection luncheon, April 16 at the Lakewood Cultural Center. Held annually during National Volunteer week, the event honors Jefferson County residents who volunteer at a variety of Jefferson County organizations. For more information, visit www.volunteerjeffco.org. PHOTO: SHELLY PINKERNELL

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APPLEWOOD BARBER SHOP V1

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CAR TALK WITH TOM Want to be Part of the Car Scene? By Tom Schmuke

YOUNGFIELD

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