By a 5-3 vote on Sept. 27, Wheat Ridge City Council passed an ordinance regulating large, permanent backyard recreation equipment, setting up a showdown between neighbors and the owner of a backyard skateboard park. Wheat Ridge has few regulations related to outdoor recreational equipment, but resident complaints about what a city memo called a “homemade
At an Aug. 9 special study session, Wheat Ridge City Council debated the details of a proposed ordinance to rein in recreational annoyances like super-sized skateparks and noisome ninja obstacle courses in residential neighborhoods. Who will enforce that?, asked one city council member. A SWAT team? Police Chief Chris Murtha? An angry mob of neighbors
Wheat Ridge’s Al Gallo has deep roots in north Denver. As a long-time resident of that neighboring area, he was invested in civic affairs and projects in the neighborhood. He discovered that he enjoyed learning about the processes in place to bring local projects to fruition. He liked working with Denver city staff from departments
Motor vehicle thefts in Wheat Ridge were down markedly through the first half of 2021 compared to the previous year, according to a statewide crime reporting program. Figures from the Colorado Automobile Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA), part of the Colorado Department of Public Safety, show Wheat Ridge reported 119 motor vehicle thefts through the end
As the pandemic has evolved we are all more aware of what we miss. For me, one item on that list was therapeutic massage. After my second vaccine in March, I realized that this was no longer out of reach. I started looking for a new massage therapist. This June, I found the place. Close
Residents, business owners and others with specific interests have a good chance of finding a group of like-minded people in and around Wheat Ridge. However, some wonder if there may be a few too many citizen groups with the same or similar goals, and if they receive tax money to help them operate, is that
Of the handful of people I have had the pleasure of interviewing for this publication, Glenn Levy was the only one who had actually researched me first. Although this caught me off guard at first, our conversation showed a man with a unique sense of humor and an interesting history. Originally from Arizona, Levy attended
When the Wheat Ridge Creatives group meets to discuss ways to bring the community together with local artists in a social event, trust them to be, well, creative. Wheat Ridge has a lot of creatives, and it also has a lot of urban farms – small farms where property owners grow produce and flowers. Voila:
It’s Almost August – Have You Registered Your Short-Term Rental? Remember back in February when Wheat Ridge City Council adopted an ordinance allowing and regulating short-term rentals? Well, anyone operating an STR in Wheat Ridge must be licensed with the city by Aug. 1. An STR is a dwelling unit, or portion of a dwelling
With COVID-19 cases declining across the nation and 50 percent of Coloradans fully vaccinated by Father’s Day, is it possible that many aspects of pre-pandemic life may return this summer? A response in the affirmative may mean that summer 2021 marks a return to a familiar summer. Current publications state that people are eager to
School districts are designed with networks and pathways, starting from daycare and pre-K, then into elementary, middle and high school. Districts need to calculate and anticipate how dollars will flow to and from schools, from year to year. Using Student Based Budgeting, principals structure spending, hiring and class sizes in their buildings. Such has been
Following two public meetings to inform and gather input from the public, the City of Wheat Ridge and SCL Health are set to present their preliminary recommendations for the redevelopment master plan of the Lutheran Medical Center campus. The public meeting is set for Aug. 3, 5:30 to 7 p.m., at Wheat Ridge City Hall,
Congratulations to the City of Wheat Ridge and the Wheat Ridge community for being named a National League of Cities All-America City. What an incredible honor! The National Civic League’s All-America City Award recognizes communities that leverage civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation to successfully address local issues. Wheat Ridge submitted a strong application that
Every summer the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival chooses a royal court of three – Countess, Count and Grand Marshall – to honor those in the community who have made a positive contribution through their participation or service in the city. The 2021 Carnation Festival will take place Aug. 13-15 at Anderson Park, 4355 Field St.,
When it comes to art, Melinda Stewart doesn’t just create. Not only is she an artist herself, Stewart teaches art to children at her studio and in several Wheat Ridge schools. She has also volunteered her time and expertise toward several community art-related projects. Stewart has taught art for more than two decades. She has
Lutheran Medical Center Announces Replacement Hospital At Clear Creek Crossing SCL Health announced June 2 it will build a replacement hospital for Lutheran Medical Center at the Clear Creek Crossing development in Wheat Ridge, following formal approval by its board of directors. The new Lutheran campus is being built on approximately 28 acres at I-70
Cambria Rollo and her family of four moved to Wheat Ridge from Salt Lake City in June 2020. Right in the middle of a pandemic, the Rollo family had moved to a new state and a new city. In May of 2021 they had been living in their new home for nearly a year, but
While the rest of the world came to a nearly complete halt during the pandemic, the Wheat Ridge Rotary, along with Rotary clubs worldwide, continued to meet and plan important community service projects. The Wheat Ridge Rotary’s 35 members met virtually for lunch every other week and once monthly in the evening. This club has
This month Wheat Ridge will host its second Arts Drop, a city-wide scavenger hunt providing an opportunity for participants to search for and find free arts and crafts while learning more about Wheat Ridge. The city’s Cultural Commission will be placing 16 local art and crafts items outdoors at local parks, as well as community
Karin Heine, creator of a unique suburban private wildlife refuge, died peacefully at her home in Wheat Ridge, according to relatives. She was 75. A life-long champion of nature, in 1997 she purchased three vacant lots in northwest Wheat Ridge and created the Heine Wildlife Sanctuary, a private refuge now home to birds, butterflies, foxes,
Since the COVID-19 virus was first reported in Wuhan, China, on Dec. 31, 2019, its deadly wrath has controlled day-to-day lives worldwide. Adhering to restrictions and health mandates significantly altered and ultimately changed how people learned, worked and interacted. With the formidable Colorado restrictions and imposed county health dictates this year, is it possible that
The Reilly family’s plan was simple. When it was time, mom and dad would head to the hospital for the birth of their second daughter. And when Maggie Reilly woke up to contractions shortly after midnight on March 7, she didn’t panic. Instead, she timed them just to make sure before waking up her husband.
Coming back after last year’s pandemic-prompted hiatus, the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival will celebrate its 52nd year Aug. 13-15 at Anderson Park, 4355 Field St. One of the oldest and longest running festivals in the state of Colorado, the annual three-day, end-of-summer, free community event highlights the unique character of Wheat Ridge, including its once-thriving
Homelessness is an issue steeped in complexity and something we witness in our everyday lives. Solutions can seem simple on the surface – just tell them to get a job, find an apartment, go back to school, etc. But these “simple” solutions are never really that simple. The contributions of individuals, while still important, aren’t
