In 1976, the R&B funk band Rose Royce released what would quickly become an unforgettable hit: the irresistibly upbeat and instantly recognizable song “Car Wash.” With its lively handclaps, bright horns, and playful lyrics about the characters you might meet while working at a car wash, the track captures a lively slice of everyday life.
I call Wheat Ridge “home” because my house is literally in Wheat Ridge and because it’s where I feel like part of a community. Grocery stores, coffee shops, trails, schools, restaurants, recreation, activities, and most importantly, social connectivity are all right here. I value the small town feel with the metro area amenities which is
The arrival of fall (finally!) got me to musing about what life was like for pioneers when diet and nutrition became a concern and starvation loomed. Colorado’s climate is great for raising all kinds of food crops, but what if the crops fail? What if hail pulverizes gardens and crops? What if grasshoppers eat everything
It’s time to unleash your pet’s Halloween spirit! Join us for an evening of costumes, community, and all things pets at Cosmo’s Dog Bakery and Pet Supplies in Gold’s Marketplace. Cosmo’s is a Wheat Ridge owned and operated pet shop specializing in nutritious baked goods for pets, along with a wide selection of healthy dog
Name: Sandy Koller – 3rd longest tenured city employee! Pictured above standing Explain your job: Bridge Teacher. I teach the game of Bridge at the Active Adult Center. I have 6 stages of lessons that each run for 10 weeks. I teach these in the fall, spring, and summer. I have worked at the city
Most of us probably don’t think much about the road beneath our tires until we hit a pothole, drive over a rough patch of pavement, or encounter a street in need of repair. But maintaining our roads is one of the most important services a city provides, and doing that work proactively can make a
Wheat Ridge and Arvada are two Front Range municipalities who collect a sales tax on grocery food, while many of their neighbors do not impose such taxes. Lakewood is somewhat unique, as it once collected sales tax revenue from grocery food but rescinded the tax 17 years ago. Mountain View, Golden, Edgewater, Littleton and Denver
First, Lutheran Hospital moved to a new location. Now, an agreement has been reached that could put the hospital’s day-to-day operations under new management. Intermountain became Lutheran’s parent system through its 2022 merger with SCL Health, which had operated Lutheran for decades. The new campus at Clear Creek Crossing at 12911 W. 40th Ave. is
Construction and demolition materials are a significant source of waste in the United States. When buildings are torn down, the process typically generates about 90% of the overall generation of waste in the construction cycle, meaning that old buildings usually end up in the landfill. Some Wheat Ridge residents may have noticed that there is
September is here, and one thing is sure: dog days of summer are finally waning. For folks at the Historical Society, it actually means two things. First, we are greatly relieved major heat waves in our un-air conditioned buildings are subsiding, and second, we note the passing of the September Second Saturday event “Dog Days”,
Do you enjoy telling your neighbors about the great businesses and people that make Wheat Ridge special? Localworks may have just the volunteer opportunity for you. Localworks is looking for a Ridge at 38 Volunteer Storyteller — a community member who can spend a few hours each week helping us share the stories of the
Name: Tom Gray Explain your job: I have worked in many different positions in the city: surveyor, designer, voluntary laborer at Public Works, and currently as an Engineering Tech. How long have you worked for the city? Retiring in November after 25 years with Public Works Favorite sandwich: One that drips down the chin after
One of the things I love most about Wheat Ridge is that we don’t have to choose between small-town charm and big-city amenities. We have tree-lined neighborhoods, longtime local businesses, parks where neighbors know each other and community traditions that have been around for generations. And as a third-generation Wheat Ridge resident, I would know.
Long before Wheat Ridge was known for its parks and neighborhoods, it was known for something else, celery. In the 1930s, celery farming was a way of life for many Wheat Ridge families. It was hard work that required long days, strong backs, and a little luck with the weather. If a family was fortunate,
Over the last few months, the most visible changes at the former Lutheran Hospital campus have revolved around clearing old buildings to make way for new construction. Now, the roughly 100-acre redevelopment is beginning to reveal what is coming next. Demolition at the Lutheran Legacy Campus remains on schedule and is expected to wrap up
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
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
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
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,
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
