Honestly, a recent dive into the origins of Valentine’s Day soon became a slog through a mass of conflicting historical theories, originating with pagan ritual and Roman law versus the Catholic Church, then further amalgamated by legend and popularized by marketing. Western civilization came to observe Saint Valentine’s feast day on Feb. 14, which coincides
Since running for city council, the single most consistent complaint I hear is: what is the city doing to make my street safer? People are afraid of drivers speeding down the same streets where kids are riding bikes. Families are forced to walk in the road due to lack of sidewalks. There aren’t safe places
The Wheat Ridge City Council is kicking off 2023 focused on affordable housing within the city. Last month, council adopted the Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan. This is the first time the City of Wheat Ridge will specifically study housing affordability in the community and craft a policy approach toward identified challenges. Key components
One of the most innovative dentists in the country has chosen Wheat Ridge as the place to set up shop. Dr. Kevin Schwandt first came to Wheat Ridge in 2017. He had the opportunity to relocate here through the corporate dental entity he was with at the time and he jumped at the chance. “I
With the arrival of each new year, the Historical Society hosts one of my favorite events: the Historical Fashion Show and Tea Party. It’s just ahead on Saturday, Jan. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Baugh House. Past gatherings have featured an array of fashions from mid-1800s prairie chic, to slick bowler-topped
A few weeks ago, I was honored to have my peers on city council elect me as the new Mayor Pro Tem for 2023. After hearing about this new position, many people congratulated me, and then pulled me aside to ask, What the heck is a Mayor Pro Tem and what do they do? On
The Wheat Ridge City Council unanimously approved our budget for 2023 and I’m proud to say the economic state of our city is strong, despite some unforeseen challenges since 2020. Revenues have performed significantly better than estimated and commercial and residential development activity continues to thrive. Federal financial assistance of over $10 million in CARES
The City of Wheat Ridge recently invested $400,000 of its American Rescue Plan dollars into Jefferson Center for Mental Health, a local community partner, to provide resources in response to the growing demand for mental health services. Like CPR, lives can be saved if more Americans know the warning signs of mental health problems, the
Amidst all the frustrations of a constant need to organize and preserve, workers in the Old Post Office at the Historical Park occasionally delight in a real find. Last week researchers came upon two bound volumes (1912-14) of The Wheat Ridge News, a newspaper published by local luminary Samuel Johnson. Paging through the volumes, I
In the year since the Wadsworth Improvement Project began in Wheat Ridge, surrounding neighborhood streets have not been crowded by vehicles avoiding construction delays, and the project is on schedule and budget. In an interview and emails, city spokeswoman Amanda Harrison said the $62 million project between 35th Avenue and Interstate 70 and the Clear
Curiously, celery has a proud heritage in the Wheat Ridge area. Long ago, after I bought my first house, I could hardly wait to plant a garden. I tilled a 30-by-20-foot plot and planted all the standard vegetables. While seed shopping I had encountered a six-pack of celery, a novelty to me. I put forth
Wheat Ridge is laying the groundwork for a sustainable economic future by focusing on development opportunities that attract companies who hire top talent, while investing in physical infrastructure in creative ways – ultimately making our community more attractive for residents and businesses. I believe there are five key elements Wheat Ridge focuses on that sets
The Wheat Ridge Police Department has spent the past few months making a concerted effort to inform you about criminal incidents that are occurring in our city, primarily on our various social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and NextDoor. We believe making sure you know how our officers spend their shifts in terms of what
Small businesses are essential in the success of a local economy. They create jobs and gathering spaces, reinvest in the community, and foster growth and prosperity. That is why for the last 18 years the City of Wheat Ridge has celebrated the commitment of small businesses to our community with an annual Business Appreciation Awards
“An apple a day …” Multiply that one apple by hundreds, and you have a beginning vision of the Cider Day Festival, the annual Historical Society’s celebration of “All Things Apple.” Scheduled for Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Historical Park (4601 Robb St.), the biggest draw is, of course, the
The City of Wheat Ridge provided the Neighborhood Gazette the following statement on the recent “ransomware” incident. The City of Wheat Ridge is still in the process of restoring its systems after IT Professionals proactively took down aspects of the network in response to a cyber security incident in late August. Immediately following the incident,
I’ve had at least one dog, sometimes more, for most of my life. I love ‘em. Dogs possess such dedication and have interesting, sometimes quirky, personalities. I had a golden retriever once that I could send into my house to check each room and make sure it was safe before I entered; that’s an important
Every two years, the city conducts a resident survey to learn about perceptions from our residents on life in Wheat Ridge. We ask questions about the quality of services we provide, what’s important and perceptions of quality of life in Wheat Ridge. We track results over time to gauge progress and changes. In the 2021
An effort to overturn Wheat Ridge City Council’s recent approval of accessory dwelling units was said to be on schedule, according to a resident leading a petition drive. The city defines an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) as a smaller, independent residential building on the same property as a detached single-unit home. ADUs are converted portions
One of the most frequent concerns I, and my Jeffco counterparts, hear from residents is the growth of persons experiencing homelessness in our community. Residents cite criminal activity, overall safety, debris and property devaluation as their primary complaints when asking their governments to “fix” this issue. As I have discussed in many different forums throughout
The cost of living in a big city has always been expensive, and Denver is no exception. The city has almost become famous for its soaring home prices, and this effect has rolled over into the surrounding communities. In the last decade, homes worth over half a million dollars have become increasingly commonplace, even in
Volunteers are busily preparing the Baugh House for the annual Heritage Day festivities on Saturday, Aug. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., celebrating the colorful history of the storied farmhouse with an ice-cream social and antique quilt show. Originally a log cabin (still evident inside the structure), the house has been through its share
On July 11, Wheat Ridge City Council adopted an ordinance legalizing Accessory Dwelling Units, aka ADUs. After six years of community engagement and two lengthy study sessions discussing the best regulations for Wheat Ridge, I’m very familiar with what ADUs are and what they aren’t. However, many of my neighbors might not know the basics
Remember back in February of ‘21, when Wheat Ridge City Council adopted an ordinance allowing and but regulating short-term rentals, aka STRs? That went into effect the following May with licensing, and enforcement and lodging tax collection began that August. One year later, it’s time to ask what worked, what didn’t, and what’s next. In
