I am a self-confessed Olympics junkie. Having attended 2 Olympics in person, I follow them every 2 years and still not sure whether I prefer the summer or winter versions. This year’s Summer Olympics in France produced more world records and social media footage than ever. Yes, it’s easy to harp on the complaints of
For 67 years, Cub Scout Pack and Scouting Troop 240, chartered in 1957 by the Wheat Ridge Kiwanis Club, have embraced diversity to create a supportive and enriching environment. Troop 240 includes Scouts from varied backgrounds. One Scout found guidance after a parent’s incarceration, while another discovered family support following a parent’s passing. Scouts on
Losing friends or making friends based on their political beliefs is unfortunately quite common these days. In fact disagreeing with someone will almost certainly sever that relationship and have you labeled as a “negative” person. This was by far the most talked about topic at our Gazette booth at RidgeFest and The Edgewater Music Festival.
When I sat down to write this month’s editorial, I had this witty idea about how bands change overtime. The Dave Matthews band of the 1990s is not the same band you’ll see on tour today; That Journey needed to learn how to be a band without Steve Perry… I wanted to wax poetically about
As the City of Wheat Ridge moves to decommission its network of fifteen Emergency Notification sirens, I would like to provide a bit of context. Generally referred to as Civil Defense Sirens, for those of us who grew up in the 1950s and ‘60s, the wail of these sirens was a weekly reminder that dangerous
Being part of the Wheat Ridge team, presenting at the All America City Conference, was a huge honor. We were asked to each wear a “Wheat Ridge t-shirt”. The presentation described what and how the city had addressed the recent racism and anti-semitic attacks on our town and how we dealt with it. We had
Kids have a bad habit of asking for something over and over and over until parents break down and say “OK”. Some may experience these battles in shopping centers, restaurants and of course at home. The energy from both sides spent on a very predictable outcome, while funny sometimes, is an absolute drain on everyone
I walked out of the restaurant and held the door open for the person walking in… And he just kept walking. I said “you’re welcome” and got no reaction back. What happened to “thank you?” Letting someone into your lane during traffic, there used to be a wave of a hand, as if to say
I live on a street that has everything. Cats and dogs, squirrels and birds, kids, babies, families, young and not so young. We probably use three or four different waste pick up companies. We drive different cars and have different homes. Some days we cross the street and talk with our neighbors. Sometimes we cross
Every few years the City of Wheat Ridge hires a marketing firm to survey its residents. Rising to the top spot: 77% of residents point to the Neighborhood Gazette as one of their most used sources of news and information. That was the result of the last survey. Higher than any other publications, websites or
“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
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
Let’s make 2024 the year we identify our true friends and build on that list. Take stock of who’s around you. That is my New Year’s resolution. I have more than 2000 contacts on my phone and yet don’t stay in touch with nearly as many as I’d like to. Your sphere is made of
My dad always told me that he would rather see the KKK march down main street in full daylight for all to see, rather than have them meet in dark basements. Last week at council, several speakers, using fake names, signed up for public speaking to get their three minutes to talk about rounding up
As conversations regarding the 2024 elections start to ignite, I find it worth talking about the voting experience for young voters in an age of technology reliance and its correlation to heightened political activity. To preface, political engagement within Generation Z is at a historic high according to 2023 midterm election data from Tuft’s Center
I remember the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 standing in the parking lot at work, watching that second plane go into the towers right in front of me. I also remember those inside my office that were cheering the falling of the towers and the murder of 3,000 people. Earlier this month when I learned
Just take a moment to look around and see the amazing things happening all around us. I was invited recently to the Optimist Club meeting and found myself standing in a room of people reciting an oath to be positive and to look at the sunny side of things. It was an hour of laughter,
Election time is always interesting in Wheat Ridge. These days, much more subdued than ever. We have a city council that is all in agreement. All green lights on the dais for just about every proposition, amendment, idea or spending request from the city. Many that follow city council meetings have been voicing their concerns
The expression of “be careful for what you wish for” was never as right as that Saturday when I set up the Neighborhood Gazette booth at the Blues and BBQ Festival in Edgewater. Displaying a banner that reads “I will talk to anyone about anything” brought on more attention than I expected. The festival began
Not sure what got into the water last weekend, but I must have seen a hundred screamin’ neon landlubbers milling around Sloan’s Waterway making pouty-fish faces into their camera boxes at sunset. Things got even stranger the next day when I heard rumblings about some kind of powerful siren or cult leader called “Taylor” who
The waste collection company we currently use just sent us a note that as of July, they will only pick up garbage in their branded trash cans and will no longer pick up garbage bags that are not inside their trash cans. This replaces the six-bag allowance we had up to now. We compost and
June is here and not a minute too soon. May was a tough month to swallow, with senseless crime, selfish politics, insane property taxes and the end of an era for some of our schools. Of course, let’s not forget the crazy rains and the rabbits that invaded our gardens. It’s like the modern version
I’m always hearing that “change is hard.” The way we educate our students, the way we eat, what is now acceptable to say, or even stand for. We’re told to accept change or be “canceled.” The Beatles sang about life changing “forever but not for better.” But I would argue that not all is lost
The Cambridge dictionary defines “augmentation” as the process of increasing the size, value or quality of something by adding to it. Think about the ingredients in your Sunday morning pancakes: flour, milk, baking soda – boring, right? But, when you augment what’s there, substituting honey for sugar, adding fresh berries and drenching each bite in
