Wildfires have become an unfortunate part of summer across the West, and this year is no exception. With multiple large fires burning across the country—including here in Colorado—many of us are paying close attention to air quality before heading outside. While we often think about how smoke affects people, our pets are breathing that same
Happy August, my nature-loving friends! Ken Hall here, aka the Bird Nut. If the heat is breaking you down as it does me, we can look forward to only 146 days until Christmas! July was a tough one unless you grew up in the desert. Most of my nature walks happened during the first three
Alively debate is brewing around town, and it has nothing to do with politics or sports. It starts every Tuesday around dinnertime. Tuesday has traditionally been the slowest night of the week for restaurants. To fill empty tables, many owners have turned to one of the oldest promotions in the business: Kids Eat Free. Locally,
The older I get, the more convinced I become that life is simply too short to spend pretending to be someone you’re not. Each passing year reminds me how important it is to embrace our authentic selves not the version our ego creates or the one society expects, but the person we were always meant
Tucked away, just west of 44th Ave. and Wadsworth Blvd, a large black building houses two businesses that hold community close at heart. All Sacred Tattoo and Ritualcravt operate with a deep drive to give back and to provide a safe and welcoming space for all. Motivated by these values, these two entities come together yearly
The City of Wheat Ridge will begin work on 38th Avenue sometime in 2027. The Kipling to Youngfield project is part of the $76 million project approved by voters 2 years ago. The project will include safe routes to schools for kids on bikes as well as 3 roundabouts (see plan drawings). City council is now
Have you ever stopped to wonder where the word “happy” originated from? As I sat down to write this month’s column, I realized I have not nor have I ever defined the word here. Feels a little bit like I missed an important step. So I’ll jump right to it. The etymology of the focus
For many patients, healing does not end when they leave the hospital. A successful recovery often depends on what is waiting for them at home: A safe space, nourishing meals, clean linens, help with daily tasks and the confidence that someone will be there when they need support. That is where Lutheran Hospital’s partnership with
When someone hears the word hospice, it can feel frightening. Many people think it means giving up. But in my experience as a hospice nurse, hospice is not about giving up on a person. It is about focusing on comfort, dignity, and quality of life when a serious illness can no longer be cured or
Most people think of a missing tooth as a cosmetic issue—a gap in their smile that can be hidden or ignored. In reality, losing a tooth can have a significant impact on your overall oral health, chewing ability, and even the structure of your jaw over time. When a tooth is removed, the root is
Most people walk in dreading the road test. The official data says they have it backward. This report breaks down Colorado’s own test records, shows exactly where most people get stopped, and explains how to pass both the permit test and the driving test on your first try. Written Test vs. Driving Test: Colorado’s Pass Rates
If you drove past Town Hall this month and wondered why staff seem to be buried in spreadsheets a little earlier than usual, there’s a good reason: August is when Mountain View’s annual budget process quietly kicks into gear. It doesn’t come with fireworks or ribbon-cuttings, but the budget is one of the most important
Imagine stepping outside on a Saturday morning to join your neighbors in planting a pollinator garden, organizing a neighborhood cleanup, or sharing ideas over coffee about how to make your corner of Edgewater a little greener and more connected. These kinds of small, locally led efforts don’t just improve a neighborhood—they strengthen the relationships that
The 38th Avenue corridor is the heart and main street of Wheat Ridge and as the community prioritizes safety, engagement, placemaking and identity, the challenge becomes balancing these long term goals with the everyday needs of the current businesses and their customers. At the city council meeting on June 15th, a refresh of 38th Avenue
Katharyn Grant How about offering some grants to assist the elderly/infirm with yard work and debris removal? Joe DeMott I can say Wheat Ridge is such a fantastic place to live and work and even the city employees do such a great job of just naturally being great people that this would be wasted money.
Finding blind spots, changing procedures and raising awareness of potential bias or discrimination in Wheat Ridge’s internal policies are parts of an upcoming equity audit. The city council, by a 5-3 vote on July 13, approved spending up to $96,000 in reserve money for the audit. Council members Mike Okada, Rachel Hultin, Jenny Snell, Kathleen
Enjoy your Carnation Festival celebration with chrome, horsepower, and hometown fun at the Big Wheels on the Farm Car Show on Sunday, August 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Anderson Park. One of the festival’s signature attractions, the show combines outstanding vehicles, live entertainment, food vendors, and family fun in the heart of
For 57 years, the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival has celebrated more than the city’s rich agricultural heritage—it has celebrated the people who have helped shape our community. One of the Festival’s longest-standing traditions is recognizing individuals whose leadership, volunteerism, and commitment have made a lasting impact on Wheat Ridge. Each year, community members nominate outstanding
Now in his sixth year as chief of the Wheat Ridge Police Department, Chief Christopher Murtha reflects on changing crime trends from the height of the pandemic to today. With the help of new technologies and the largest graduating class of police officers in the department’s history, the police force can focus more on proactive
The name “5 Fridges Farm,” although nicely alliterative, seems a mighty unusual name for a farm. On the other hand, when one stops to consider all that goes on at a working farm, it starts to make sense. A farm that regularly produces lots of eggs and milk certainly needs a reliable method of refrigeration,
Tickets are on sale now for Localworks’ fourth annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser, scheduled for Sept. 17, 7:30 a.m. shotgun start at Applewood Golf Course in Golden. The cost to play is $120 per player and $450 per team. The 18-hole scramble tournament tees off at 7:30 a.m. and welcomes players of all skill levels. Participants can
Summer is still in full swing, and we’re celebrating with an evening of family fun, sweet treats, and community at El Arka Plaza (located at 6875 W. 38th Ave)! Join Localworks on Thursday, August 13, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. for a fun-filled Live Local at one of Wheat Ridge’s newest community gathering places. El
The City of Wheat Ridge has been awarded a $2.64 million grant through the Colorado Energy Office’s Local Implementation, Mitigation, and Policy Action (Local IMPACT) Accelerator program, bringing significant state investment to the community without increasing costs for local taxpayers. The grant funding will help reduce costs, improve public facilities, and support a more sustainable
The City of Wheat Ridge’s Homeless Navigation Program has reached over 200 housing placements since its inception in December of 2020. The City of Wheat Ridge Homeless Navigation Program follows the county-wide navigator model that was developed in 2020. Wheat Ridge has a Homeless Navigator and a Housing Navigator full-time on staff who help people
