Astanding-room-only crowd gathered July 10 at Fellowship Denver Church North Metro to remember Dominick Breton, the beloved community leader known to many as “Mr. Wheat Ridge.” Breton, who was born with liver and kidney disease, died June 18 at age 41 while awaiting another transplant. Pastor and friend Rich Dugan led the service, where Breton’s sister,
Each year, the Neighborhood Gazette proudly awards the Lou Olivera Citizenship Scholarship, honoring the life and legacy of Louis ‘Lou’ Olivera -U.S. Army Ranger, devoted community member, and proud American. Lou believed that citizenship is not just a status, but a responsibility- lived through service, integrity, and compassion. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a
Earlier this month, I had the privilege of selecting Dominick Breton as the very first recipient of the Mayor’s Community Champion Award in recognition of his extraordinary service, leadership, and love for Wheat Ridge. Sadly, before we had the opportunity to publicly present this honor, Dominick passed away. It is fitting that the inaugural award
Citizenship is not a piece of paper. It’s not a passport stamp or some legal definition sitting in a government filing cabinet. Citizenship is a voice, loud, insistent, and never quite finished saying what it needs to say. When I speak, the sound doesn’t just come from me. It echoes back across centuries, carried by
There was a time in Wheat Ridge where one in ten police calls for service were dedicated to just a handful of businesses in the city. Ever since Wheat Ridge Police Chief Chris Murtha took on the job in 2020, creating better public safety around the I-70 and Kipling area and the hotels in the
Typically, when you spend more, you expect to get more in return. That’s not the case when it comes to the water in Wheat Ridge. Beginning February 1, 2026, Wheat Ridge Water District water bills increased by $5.51 per month on the service charge for single-family residential customers from $11.02 to $16.53 and by $11.02
Wheat Ridge residents have seen inflation in the grocery aisle, on utility bills and in nearly everything they buy. But it is less obvious when inflation is parked inside a local fire station. According to West Metro Fire Rescue, the cost of a fire engine has increased from $720,000 in 2018 to $1.3 million today.
Localworks, in partnership with the Wheat Ridge Police Department, will host four TLC Clean-up Days in 2026, offering Wheat Ridge residents an opportunity to dispose of unwanted items responsibly and keep their neighborhoods clean. Adeline Mann, Localworks Program manager, states, “TLC Clean-up Days bring the Wheat Ridge community together around a common goal: keeping our
We’re taught to turn off the tap while brushing our teeth, a small act that saves a few gallons a day and reassures us we’re doing our part. It’s the kind of advice that drought checklists and utility bill inserts are made of. While water is being saved at the sink, the urgency is growing.
There’s finally movement at the Lutheran Legacy Campus. I had a great conversation this week with Chris Elliott, Principal at EX5. While acknowledging the project is behind schedule, he confirmed that several key structures will remain intact, including the chapel, the blue house, three office buildings, and the hospice. The City of Wheat Ridge continues
As one of the main events of the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival, the Big Wheels on the Farm Car Show is more than just a showcase of classic cars – it’s a true celebration of our community. This family-friendly event brings together car enthusiasts, delicious food, live music, and a whole lot of fun, all
Apple’s new MacBook Neo comes with a $599 price tag. It’s aimed at price-conscious college students and young professionals. But if you have more to spend, Apple has products to spend more on. The MacBook Air starts at $1,099, while the MacBook Pro begins at $1,699. This “good, better, best” framework has long empowered consumers:
8,000 people came through Wheat Ridge this weekend. They drank 7,000 pints of Guinness, 2,500 green Coors Lights, and 2,000 shots of Jameson. They ate hundreds of plates of corned beef and cabbage, packed the sidewalks, filled the tents, and turned 38th Avenue into something you don’t see every day. And somehow, it all worked.
If you’ve recently moved to Wheat Ridge, welcome to the neighborhood! We hope you love it here. We’ve got great parks, friendly folks, and — fair warning — a mailbox that apparently moonlights as a bill-delivery service. Settle in, because on any given month you might pull out a water bill, a sanitation bill, a
Property owners in Wheat Ridge, Jefferson County and across Colorado recently learned they will be paying up to 20% more in property taxes this year. It’s due to a complicated combination of changes made after the expiration of tax relief for residents and businesses as well as other changes. Property tax statements were mailed by
After years of anticipation, planning, and construction, the City of Wheat Ridge is proud to announce the substantial completion of the Wadsworth Improvement Project, the largest infrastructure project the city has ever undertaken. Wadsworth Boulevard is now fully open, featuring safer, smoother, and more efficient travel for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders alike. While
A partnership between the City of Wheat Ridge and an Indigenous food project has dissolved after two growing seasons, with both parties sharing conflicting accounts of what went wrong at Happiness Community Gardens. Narissa Ribera, founder of Ch’il Indigenous Foods and a member of the Navajo Nation, says the City of Wheat Ridge failed to
As the new school year approaches, ensuring that students are healthy and ready to learn is a top priority. By keeping kids up-to-date on their immunizations, we can keep them safe from certain illnesses and avoid missing days in school. At Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH), we make it easy for parents to get their
This summer, Localworks and Clear Creek Makerspace (CCM) invite community members to bring a vibrant touch to the CCM building exterior through a community paint-by-numbers mural campaign. CCM, located at 9110 W 44th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO, will host two community paint events on July 13th and July 27th, allowing painters to add their personal
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors adopted a resolution to submit a ballot question to eligible voters that would allow RTD to remain exempt from the limitations of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). “Putting the TABOR question to qualified voters makes sense. Agency polling indicated a strong level of support, with 68%
The countdown is on to one of the most anticipated weekends in Wheat Ridge: The Carnation Festival, now more than 50 years old, is one of the longest-running festivals in Colorado. Its name comes from the post-World War II period when Wheat Ridge was home to a thriving carnation industry. The last carnation grower in
Those that call Wheat Ridge home love that the city is so convenient. The proximity and ease of a commute to the city or the mountains or anywhere between makes life a breeze. The downside to that is the fact that the geography of our city places us at some risk for poor air quality.
Extracurricular activities, whether sports, the arts, faith-based activities or cultural clubs, can have profound effects on children, particularly as they transition from childhood to adolescence. Children who participate in group activities tend to have higher self-esteem and connection to their peers, as well as lower levels of anxiety and depression. Wheat Ridge hosts a plethora
The intersection at 44th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard is a hub of local business and a busy corridor for commuters. Lately, construction along both of these roads near their intersection has contributed to traffic jams, accidents and reduced access to local businesses. The area’s recent construction comes as part of the “Improve Wadsworth” project, which,
