Dear Mr. Nahmiach,
Thank you for the picture of the demolition of the old Lutheran Hospital. It reminded me of my connection to that old hospital. For three years my mother was a patient at the Lutheran Sanitarium for tuberculosis patients. Yes, it was nearly a hundred years ago. She entered the sanitarium on May 15, 1928. She would soon be 22 years old.
After more than two years, the sanitarium superintendent wrote to my grandfather telling him to be prepared for his daughter’s death. She was in the final stages of tuberculosis. However on the staff was a young doctor who was determined to find a cure. He injected calcium into my mother’s veins. Right away she began to recover. (You should see the looks on the faces of doctors and nurses when I tell them that!)
Not only did my mother recover, but she met and married my father in 1930. I was born two years later. My mother led a busy life and lived to within 6 weeks of her 99th birthday. I believe it was a miracle. I hope that at the new Lutheran Hospital there will be many miracles.
Irene Eggers, Wheat Ridge
Dear Neighborhood Gazette Team,
On June 24, 2025 Wheat Ridge presented Autowash at Lakeside with a citation of non-compliance of their special use permit for two issues: Door Operations and Operational Noise Impacts on the Neighborhood.
With this citation, the city was requiring a 7-point plan to mitigate the noise. One point on the list being immediate noise mitigatioBy July 3, 2025 where the city required: “All wash bays shall have both entry and exit doors fully closed during operation…”
Instead of complying with the 7-point plan, Autowash chose to close and commissioned a sound study. Part of their report measured the dryer noise at 94db, the wash cycle at 83db and the undercarriage wash at 82 db.
For reference, Colorado Revised Statute affords for 60db on commercial properties and 55db on residential from 7am to 7pm. Wheat Ridge code affords 65db on commercial and 55db on residential from 7am-10pm.
October 2025, in an attempt to look like they fixed the noise issues, Autowash installed a six foot 3/4” plywood/OSB and faux plastic brick decorative wall that matches the rest of their building facade along the south property line. A wall that was required in 2022 planning documents to be installed as part of their site plan. This wall has been found in March 2026 by another sound engineer to be insufficient to provide adequate Autowash operation sound attenuation. Autowash then re-opened late October without telling the city or completing a follow-up study matching the pre-wall location measurements. No other mitigation to the other property lines was executed, exit doors remain open and the owner Dennis removed the do not enter sign to the car wash off of Gray Street.
We ask Community Development Director Lauren Mikulak, City Manager Patrick Goff and our WR City
Council for a return to peace now. We ask for both the entrance and exit doors to be required to be closed during the full wash/dry operation per their June 24 citation. We ask for actual mitigation of the noise along the east and north property lines, not just the south. We ask for operation of the car wash to be 7am to 7pm at the latest per CRS 25-12-103. We ask for what we were promised during our city-sponsored zoom call of neighbors: no entrance from Gray Street and no noise pollution into our neighborhood. We ask the city to step up and make things right for a poor decision to allow this huge non-compliant car wash 100 feet from a residential neighborhood. We ask the city to mandate this mitigation before Autowash business is allowed to continue operating in non-compliance.
Thanks,
Gretchen
To the Editor,
As a Wheat Ridge resident, I’m writing to highlight an educator who truly deserves recognition: Mr. Mike O’Connor of Everitt Middle School.
The impact he has had on my daughter this year has been remarkable. Her confidence, engagement, and overall experience at school have improved in ways that speak directly to his dedication and skill in the classroom. Teachers like Mr. O’Connor are the reason students succeed—not just academically, but personally.
I have submitted a formal nomination for him for the Colorado Teacher of the Year award and have attached it for additional context. His work reflects the kind of commitment and care that benefits not only his students, but the entire Wheat Ridge community.
I hope the Gazette will consider recognizing Mr. O’Connor so our community can celebrate the kind of educator every student deserves.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Munyon, Wheat Ridge
Dear Friends at the Gazette,
I have been a resident of Wheat Ridge since 2001 and deeply appreciate the small-town atmosphere of our community. However, I am writing to express a concern regarding the enforcement of local leash laws.
Last Saturday, while walking along the Greenbelt Youngfield Trailhead, a large, unleashed dog charged at me while growling. Although the owner claimed the dog was friendly, the experience was terrifying. While the owner eventually leashed the dog after I spoke up, I noticed several other dogs off-leash during the same walk.
As a lifelong dog lover, I understand that even well-behaved animals act on instinct. Leash laws are essential to protect both residents and pets, and it is concerning to see them frequently ignored.
I would appreciate it if you could remind the public of these regulations to ensure our trails remain safe for everyone.
Best regards,
Ogden Smith
