I hope 2024 is going well for you so far! In November 2023, I was honored to be elected Edgewater Mayor, following service on City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission. Along with re-elected Council members Bill Berg and Kali Janda and new members Mercedes Valdez, Joie Iten and John Thomsen, we were sworn
In Edgewater, the wave of backyard farming is turning suburban homes into lively havens for chickens, ducks, goats, rabbits and even bees. Since February is the start of baby chick season, we wanted to give you the inside scoop on Backyard Livestock in Edgewater! The responsible ownership of these animals is a top priority, and
Kevin DeForrest is the most interesting man you’ve never heard of. He reluctantly admits that he’d like to change that. “My brother asked me once ‘why do you write songs, anyway?’ I said ‘I just want to write better and better songs all the time, right?’ And he said ‘bulls*** — I think you want
In the first council meeting of the new year, Wheat Ridge City Council members, staff and residents addressed the community conversation regarding the sheltering of migrants in Wheat Ridge, in addition to wrapping up various operating and housekeeping agenda items. Opening the meeting, Mayor Bud Starker first acknowledged resident and municipal Judge Christopher Randall, proclaiming
When Frances Vendena graduated from high school in 1935, her classmates declared her “happy-go-lucky”, and the phrase even appeared below her smiling yearbook photo. Born on January 1, 1918, she was the first baby of the year welcomed into Alma, Nebraska. Now, at 106-years-old, Frances still smiles and laughs her way through conversations, recounting fond
My first job in the professional world began with a role that involved ordering parts from local suppliers. Armed with a telephone and phone directory, my task was to call companies to negotiate favorable terms. For more intricate and involved projects, vendors were directed to submit formal proposals, using the “high tech” fax machine. Those
Happy February nature lovers. Ken Hall, aka “Bird Nut” here. The new year has started out as a fantastic year for bird watchers. Many birds that I typically do not see in winter are showing themselves: Great Blue Herons, Wilson’s Snipe, (yes Snipe really do exist), Yellow Rump Warblers, Black Phoebe’s and many more. Another
The Green at 38th, the proposal for an outdoor gathering space outside Stevens Elementary School on 38th Avenue near Upham Street, will carry on a centuries-long tradition of community togetherness in Wheat Ridge. Stevens Elementary is on the oldest continuous education site in Colorado, and since the 1800s, the land just outside the school has
In a move to address transportation challenges faced by families around Lumberg and Edgewater Elementary Schools, the City of Edgewater has initiated a community-based transportation planning program. The Edgewater School Transportation Plan is currently in the public input phase, with the project’s website acting as a hub for information and engagement. Organizers hope to accommodate
February is American Heart Month and leads with the first Friday as National Wear Red Day. Perhaps surprisingly, the shortest month in the calendar is devoted to heart disease, the leading cause of death in Americans. Regardless, it is a time to raise awareness and remind us that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is largely preventable. CVD
In response to overwhelming demand from the community, Localworks is delighted to announce the return of Legislative Lowdown! This eagerly anticipated event, in collaboration with Wheat Ridge community partners, aims to equip business owners with comprehensive insights into the key facets of the upcoming legislative session. Scheduled for February 22, 2024, from 5:30 to 7:30
The next time heavy equipment and workers in yellow vests start moving dirt in a Wheat Ridge neighborhood, try looking online to find out what’s being built. The city’s projects and properties map offers residents and businesses a place to find updates on city and private developments. In an introductory video posted on the city’s
Intermountain Health has announced that Kathy Crabtree, MD, has been named Assistant Chief Medical Officer at Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge effective Jan. 21. In this new role, she will support the medical staff at Lutheran to advance the quality and safety of care at the hospital. She also will support Toni Green-Cheatwood, DO,
This year, the Town of Mountain View will be announcing Community Spirit awards at the Spring Fling on Saturday, March 30th, for community members who most consistently shoveled their sidewalks promptly this winter. Not everyone knows the rules. That is part of the problem, and so this year, we are working to help everyone understand
“24 and there’s so much more” sang Neil Young, and that’s how I feel about this new year. If it’s one thing I learned in 2023 is that there are no promised tomorrows. Appreciate your friends, leave nothing unsaid, plant that tree, buy those chickens. Build that shed. Forget that permit. Take that vacation. Ask
If you are looking for a break from the hectic pace of I-70 ski traffic this winter, head to the historic mining town of Cripple Creek! Situated 9,494 feet in the mountains, with a population of just over 1,100 people, Cripple Creek is an excellent place to step back to a slower tempo to take
Amidst the savory aromas and steadfast crockpots, fourteen contestants showcased their culinary skills at the Wheat Ridge Grange’s annual chili cook-off on Thursday, Jan. 18. More than 50 attendees escaped the dropping temperatures outside to taste, evaluate and vote for their favorite dish. First-time entrant and Wheat Ridge City Council member Jenny Snell captured the
As the excitement of the New Year begins to fade, it can be challenging to remember why we dreamed up such lofty goals or even how we can remain committed to personal change. Statistically, one-third of Americans embark on resolutions, but only 8% successfully achieve them. If you find yourself within these statistics, the odds
The first Jefferson County School Board meeting of the new year and the second meeting of the newly-elected board on Jan. 18 devoted most of the evening to awards and recognitions, before summarily approving 24 items as part of the consent agenda without discussion. Items in the consent agenda included approval of 18 acres of
This one took some time to get off the ground — very much like a dreary morning in Wheat Ridge. We asked for readers’ favorite breakfast places. We had many suggestions like Stylus and Crate in Wheat Ridge, Syrup in Edgewater, Apple Ridge Cafe was a crowd favorite, Mercedes was mentioned, as was one reader’s kitchen.
Before I dive into this month’s column, I have a confession: It’s inspired by a commercial aired during a recent football game. I generally hate commercials and usually ignore them, but a reminder of one of the laws of thermodynamics caught my ears and kept me thinking. This law states that energy cannot be created
Our council’s approval of the police department’s budget for 2024 marks a pivotal moment for law enforcement in our city, with the introduction of two groundbreaking initiatives aimed at enhancing public safety and investigative capabilities. One of the significant additions is the establishment of the WRPD Drone Program, reflecting a forward-thinking approach to policing in
This past year, I was faced with an appalling fact. Statistically, only about 20% of what the community was putting out to recycle was being recycled. Instead, residents were seeing their recycling bins that had contamination — items that are not, in fact, recyclable — picked up by the trash trucks and taken to the
Along with fashions popular in the Era, the Victorians ushered in all sorts of societal change. One lasting convention was the new idea that marriage should be based on romantic love instead of by arrangement or for “convenience.” With the new societal dynamic, references to and descriptions of love appeared frequently. A popular mid-century lithograph,
