Tickets On Sale For Central City Opera’s ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’ Summer Festival, June 24-Aug. 6
Wheat Ridge-based Central City Opera invites lovers of opera (and musicals) to “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” and join Central City Opera for its 2023 Summer Festival.
Evening and matinee performances take place in the historic Central City Opera House, with pre- and post-performance talks and other special events.
This season includes three musical adaptations of Shakespearean stories brought to life on the opera house stage: classic opera “Romeo & Juliet” by Charles Gounod (June 24, 30; July 2, 8, 12, 15, 21, 28, 30; Aug. 2, 5), Cole Porter’s musical “Kiss Me, Kate,” (July 1, 5, 7, 9, 14, 16, 22, 26, 29; Aug. 5)and “Othello” by Gioachino Rossini (July 15, 19, 23, 29; Aug. 4, 6).
For more information, contact the box office at 303-292-6700 or boxoffice@centralcityopera.org.
Wheat Ridge Historical Society Hosts May Festival, May 14
The Wheat Ridge Historical Society will host its annual May Festival Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Historical Park, 4610 Robb St.
This celebration of spring will be complete with live music provided by Golden Strings featuring Henry the Fiddler, maypole dances (at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.), strolling Victorian ladies and gents, antique cars, food trucks and games galore, as well as crafts and conversation. Join us for a trip back in time to when adults enjoyed lawn games and the sound of children’s laughter filled the air.
The museum buildings will be open, and tours are free for the day! The Historical Park’s Century-long Story theme asks visitors to step back to a time and interact with five different time periods in America’s history:
• The Johnson Cabin, the first building to be re-imagined, now appears as it would if inhabited by a family newly arrived from the East in the 1860s and trying to establish themselves in a harsh land.
• The Old Sod House is nearing completion with the addition of period beds and straw mattresses; the house (one of only three sod houses in the state) features furnishings common for a family living in the 1880s when settlers had access to “all the latest technology” brought from the East on the new transcontinental railway.
• The White Family Home and the farm implement shed, though not yet re-imagined, will welcome visitors for a peek into early 20th century living.
• Wheat Ridge’s first post office, having recently suffered water damage, is a work in progress as city crews work to restore the ceiling and walls.
The Historical Park museums are open on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. We are happy to accommodate your needs and glad to make appointments for tours on other days; just call or email us at the contact information below.
For more information go to wheatridgehistoricalsociety.org, email wrhistorical@gmail.com, call 303-421-9111, or stop by the Red Brick House Fridays at 4610 Robb St. Be sure to follow us on Facebook.
Got A Hazardous Tree Problem? Wheat Ridge Has Money To Help Solve It
The City of Wheat Ridge is accepting applications for its Hazardous Tree Services Grant Program through Sept. 4, or till all funds have been awarded.
The program provides aid to Wheat Ridge residents for assessment, removal, pruning or treatment of hazard trees, which qualify by posing significant risk. Just how much? Reimbursement of 50 percent up to $1,500 for removal, 50 percent up to $1,000 for pruning (for hazard or health), or 50 percent up to $500 for treatment (for hazard or health) may be awarded.
For details, visit: https://www.rootedinfun.com/354/Hazardous-Tree-Services-Grant-Program
Tickets Available Now For Annual Lakewood Arts Garden Tour, June 17
Lakewood Arts Gallery is holding its Annual Garden Tour on Saturday, June 17 from 8-2:30 p.m. Visit six or seven gardens in the Lakewood, Wheatridge, Golden area, talk with experts on gardening and stop in the gallery for lunch and enjoy beautiful floral art.
Advance tickets are available for $25 by visiting the gallery, or purchasing online at lakewoodarts.org.
For more information call the gallery at 303-980-0625.
Lauren Mikulak Named New Wheat Ridge Community Development Director
The City of Wheat Ridge recently named Lauren Mikulak as the new Community Development Director, according to a press release from the city. Mikulak has worked at the City of Wheat Ridge since 2010, and since 2017 she has managed the Planning Division, overseeing all current and long-range planning efforts. She specializes in land use regulation, development review, plan implementation, project management, and process improvement. As the staff liaison to the Wheat Ridge Housing Authority, she oversaw the redevelopment of the historic Fruitdale School Lofts.
Over the last few years, Mikulak has helped lead the city into a new era of meaningful public engagement. She led the implementation effort for Wheat Ridge Speaks, the city’s online engagement platform for public meetings, and launched the Let’s Talk Resident Engagement Program that allows residents to share their thoughts about their neighborhood.
“Lauren has built a strong career at the City of Wheat Ridge. The city has been honored to watch her grow as a leader, and we are looking forward to seeing her shine in this new role,” said City Manager Patrick Goff.
Mikulak has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s in urban and regional planning from the University of New Orleans. Prior to living in Colorado, Mikulak served as a construction manager for Habitat for Humanity in post-Katrina Baton Rouge.
There’s A Vacancy On The City Of Wheat Ridge Planning Commission
Now is your chance to join the City of Wheat Ridge Planning Commission: a vacancy has opened, and that position serves for a term ending on March 3, 2025. Planning Commission meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month in Council Chambers at City Hall.
The Planning Commission develops and prepares a master plan for the physical, economic, and social development of the city. The commission holds public hearings on zoning cases, development plans and subdivision plats, conditional use permits and special use permits. The commission also recommends revisions to the city’s development regulations. Applications are open to Wheat Ridge residents and are kept on file for one year. Submit applications online through the city’s website, or print, complete and mail to the City Clerk’s office, located at 7500 W. 29th Avenue Wheat Ridge, CO 80033.
View the vacancy and learn more on the Boards and Commissions page: www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/1127/Boards-Commissions
