New Art Education Scholarship Available For Wheat Ridge Students And Graduates
Hey kids, are you interested in pursuing an art education? If you are a junior, senior or recent graduate who either resides in Wheat Ridge or has attended school in Wheat Ridge, there’s a new art scholarship available.
During the June 2022 Art in the Barn fundraiser, Wheat Ridge Creates raised money to distribute to local high school students or recent graduates who are interested in pursuing an art education. Up to three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded, intended to cover the associated cost of continuing an art education. Scholarships are limited to individuals with graduation years of 2021, 2022 or 2023. A specific college path is not required.
Wheat Ridge Creates is a local program for creatives that was founded under the premise of bringing more exposure to the arts into the Wheat Ridge community. This program is supported by the City of Wheat Ridge, Localworks and the Neighborhood Gazette.
Applicants apply online, and must fill out the Arts Scholarship Application form to submit a portfolio and an Artist’s Intent Statement. A letter from a current or past teacher is optional.
The complete application must be submitted by Nov. 13. Applications will be reviewed by an evaluation committee on a competitive basis, and all applicants will be notified of the results by Nov. 30.
Scholarship recipients will be required to give a brief presentation about their portfolio and answer questions at the monthly Wheat Ridge Creates meeting on Dec. 17, when the scholarships are awarded.
The link for the application and the application process document can be found at: www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/FormCenter/City-Manager-2/Wheat-Ridge-Creates-Scholarship-Applicat-152
Lakewood Arts Hosts Opening Reception For ‘Bizarre And Surreal’ Exhibition On First Friday Art Walk, Nov. 4
Lakewood Arts’ “Bizarre and Surreal” exhibit will run Oct. 30 through Nov. 18, along with art from Amanda Stavast Metcalf and Sandra Davis on the community walls, at the 6501 W. Colfax Ave. gallery, in Lakewood. There will be an opening reception and First Friday Art Walk Nov. 4.
Lakewood Arts’ annual Holiday Fine Arts and Gift show begins Nov. 20 and will run through the end of the year. And don’t forget to view the Artists’ Choice exhibit at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Alison Parkway, through Jan. 2.
For more information, visit lakewoodarts.org or call 303-980-0625.
Veterans To Be Honored At Wheat Ridge Historical Society’s November Second Saturday Social
Join members of the Wheat Ridge Historical Society in honoring local veterans for their service at November’s Second Saturday Social. There will be a flag ceremony at the Baugh House, 44th Avenue and Robb Street, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12. Along with honoring veterans, there will be a craft and book sale. Handmade craft items and plenty of books will be on hand. Bring your own items and buy, sell or trade them while enjoying some live music, snacks and good conversation.
The Johnson Cabin and the Soddy in the Historical Park have been beautifully staged to reflect pioneer life in the mid- and late-1800s with many authentic artifacts of the era. These two buildings represent the first two chapters of the Century-long Story, which will relate the saga of how this area was settled during the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s.
Currently, the Historical Park museums are open on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. We take appointments for tours on other days. We’ll be happy to accommodate your needs; just call or email us at the contact information below.
November means elections, and the WRHS has board positions open for interested members; email us at the address below to get how-to documents. The membership drive is just around the corner. Become a member now; update your current membership or, better yet, upgrade your membership. Why wait?
For more information go to our website at wheatridgehistoricalsociety.org, email us at wrhistorical@gmail.com, call 303-421-9111, or stop by the White Family Home at the Red Brick House Fridays at 4610 Robb St., and be sure to like us on Facebook.
Wheat Ridge Unveils Outdoor Fitness Court At Panorama Park
A sleek and modern outdoor Fitness Court – featuring a supporting mobile app – was unveiled at an Oct. 13 opening day launch event at Wheat Ridge’s Panorama Park, 3799 Fenton St. The City of Wheat Ridge said this quality-of-life addition is part of its commitment to public health and investment in outdoor spaces, according to a press release.
Wheat Ridge was selected from hundreds of applicants around the country to be awarded a $30,000 grant from the National Fitness Campaign, a nationwide consulting organization, to help support the program. Remaining support included a city match and American Rescue Act Funds.
“We are excited to add this new resource for our community to stay fit and healthy,” said Karen O’Donnell, director of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation. “The new Fitness Court offers a beautiful park setting with equipment that is specially designed for outdoor use.”
The Fitness Court is an open-air wellness center that allows users to leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout, per the statement. Created with adults of all ages in mind, it is adaptable for all fitness levels.
New users can also download the free Fitness Court App – a coach-in-your-pocket style platform – which transforms the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness ecosystem. It is available for iOS and Android.
Voting At The Last Minute? Here Are Some Options
Through Oct. 31, Coloradans can go online to register to vote, update their voter registration and ask to receive a ballot in the mail. If you missed that deadline, options are fewer, but still available.
After Oct. 31, Coloradans can register to vote, receive a ballot and vote in person at a Voter Service and Polling Center (VSPC) until 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Eligible voters who wish to mail back their voted ballot should do so by Oct. 31 to ensure it is received by their county election official by Nov. 8. Starting Nov. 1 voters should return their ballot to a drop box or voting center.
In-person voting on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, will be available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Eligible voters must have returned their ballot to a drop box or voting center, or be in line to vote by 7 p.m., for their ballot to be counted. Ballots cast by military and overseas voters must be sent no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day and received by 11:59 p.m. on the eighth day after the election (Nov. 16).
For more information, Wheat Ridge voters can visit https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/742/Upcoming-Elections
Starting Nov. 15, Your E-Bike Can Ride Along On RTD
Beginning Nov. 15, Regional Transportation District customers will be permitted to travel with battery electric bikes, commonly known as e-bikes.
Effective that date, e-bikes can be brought aboard RTD transit vehicles.
But not every bike. And with some exceptions:
• Those exceeding 55 pounds may not be loaded onto any bus-mounted front bicycle rack
• For regional buses, such as those used for Flatiron Flyer service, e-bikes must either fit on the front bike racks or in the luggage compartment beneath the vehicles
• Gasoline-powered vehicles remain prohibited aboard transit vehicles
E-bikes may not be brought onto the light rail high blocks, which are intended for use by individuals with disabilities and are not intended to accommodate devices that are not primarily designed or intended to assist persons with mobility disabilities.
RTD will update the Bike-n-Ride webpage to reflect additional policies or best practices around e-bikes that will be put into place by Nov. 15.
To arrive at the decision to allow e-bikes, RTD staff worked with the American Public Transportation Association and researched the e-bike policies of nine U.S. transit agencies to understand their practices and consider whether such vehicles can safely be accommodated on the RTD system.
‘The Covid Wife’ Opens Nov. 11, Concluding Benchmark Theatre’s ‘Aftermath’ Season
Benchmark Theatre will present the world premiere production of local actress Suzanne Nepi’s “The Covid Wife” at 1560 Teller St., Lakewood, Nov. 11 through Dec. 10.
Directed by Neil Truglio, and starring Suzanne Nepi and Tanis Joaquin Gonzales, “The Covid Wife” is billed as Nepi’s true story: in October 2020 she made national news when her husband, Mark, was hospitalized with serious complications due to COVID-19. Separated for three weeks with her husband in an ICU bed and hooked up to a ventilator, Suzanne had to confront and overcome her own history in order to gain the strength to help her husband fight for his life.
It is the seventh and final production of Benchmark’s 2021/2022 season since they returned to live programming after a year and a half of dormancy due to COVID-19.
According to Benchmark’s announcement, the 2021/2022 season is themed “Aftermath” with all titles chosen for season selection as a response to the period of dormancy the theatre and all other cultural organizations endured due to the pandemic and subsequent shutdown as well as the cultural and social changes which developed and were impacted by the pandemic.
Performances are Thursday through Saturday evenings starting 8 p.m., and Sunday afternoons, 2 p.m., except Nov. 24-27 (Thanksgiving holiday weekend) and Dec. 2 (due to the 40West Arts District First Friday).
Admission is $30 general, $25 senior/student/military and $18 Thursdays. Special $18 pricing is offered on Industry Night, Nov. 21, and a $15 Healthcare Worker Discount (proof of employment required) is available.
For more information visit: www.benchmarktheatre.com
RTD Fares Will Be Free On Election Day To Encourage Voting
The Regional Transportation District has announced two zero fare days – National Vote Early Day and General Election Day – to encourage voter participation in the upcoming general election.
Oct. 28 was National Vote Early Day, a nonpartisan day of awareness about the tools available to many Americans – including in Colorado – to vote early. Nov. 8 is Election Day.
The effort, in partnership with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, encourages voter turnout in the RTD region and removes a cost barrier for people to travel by bus or train to cast their ballot.
“While data shows that mail ballot voting has significantly increased voter turnout in Colorado, providing systemwide zero fare transit access on general election days further reduces barriers to polling places,” said RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson in a press release.
Lakewood Offers Free Audit And Retrofits To Help To Lower Household Water And Heating Bills
Lakewood has a new program to help qualified Lakewood families lower their water and heating bills with a free energy audit that can include two free water-saving toilets and other water and energy fixture upgrades, according to a press release from the city.
Lakewood is now a partner with Mile High Youth Corps to provide in-home water and energy assessments and retrofits. During the free energy audit, the following items will be assessed and potentially replaced, all free of charge: Shower heads and faucet aerators; up to two toilets; thermostats; light bulbs; and carbon monoxide/smoke detectors.
Mile High Youth Corps hires and trains young adults to provide these free energy and water conservation measures to income-qualified homes. These adults are part of the AmeriCorps network and are certified on a variety of installations including toilets, showerheads and lighting.
The income qualifications vary by household size.
Lakewood residents interested in the program can visit the Mile High Youth Corps’ website at MileHighYouthCorps.org/free-install-services or call 720-974-0500, option 2.
