They said that “print is dead” and that buying a newspaper was a terrible investment. But I remember feeling nothing but excitement at the opportunity to carry on a tradition—ensuring Wheat Ridge continued to have its own voice.
It wasn’t just about continuing what Charlie and Tim had started. For me, it was about giving a voice to my community—creating a platform that was inclusive, positive, and meaningful. We wanted to highlight local artists and their craft, seniors with stories worth hearing, and young residents sharing dreams about what our city could become. We celebrated the work of city staff who quietly kept things running behind the scenes.
That was five years ago. The Neighborhood Gazette was just 12 pages then. Today, we’ve doubled in size and are bursting at the seams with 24 pages.
The Gazette’s story began 20 years ago with Charlie Holcer. His mission was to keep city officials and staff accountable. It wasn’t exactly the friendliest publication, but it had a purpose. When Charlie passed away, the Gazette’s graphic designer, Tim Berland, took ownership and kept it going. But just before the pandemic hit, the financial burden became too much to sustain.
That’s when I stepped in—paying off $35,000 in debts to writers, staff, and printers. I was fortunate to retain Joe O’Leary as editor, along with writers Ken and Mike. At the time, I knew nothing about owning a newspaper—only that I was passionate about our city having one.
That passion became the mission I invited advertisers to join. I also knew I had to build trust with the city. Mayor Starker welcomed me warmly, and I still remember the kind words he shared at a WRBA breakfast.
I made only one change to the Gazette’s format: we would focus solely on good news. And that turned out to be the winning formula. We highlighted inspiring people and uplifting stories. We celebrated the events and achievements that brought our community together. Readers responded—and so did advertisers.
Writers came from all over, from seasoned professionals to passionate community members who simply had something to say. The Gazette’s reach grew. We even began receiving calls from mayors in neighboring towns who wanted their voices included, too.
When a recent city survey revealed that 77% of residents rely on the Neighborhood Gazette as their main source of news and information, we knew we had accomplished something meaningful. We had earned the trust and loyalty of our readers. The Gazette became a powerful tool—not just for advertisers, but for the city itself, which now shares more news and announcements through our pages.
Of course, running a newspaper is never easy. Rising printing and mailing costs continue to be a challenge. But the calls, letters, and conversations we receive remind us how important it is that our city has its own voice.
This is especially clear when we see so many local papers around us—from Wash Park to the Arvada Press—either shut down or absorbed by a media company based in Tempe, Arizona, which now owns 21 local publications.
We are deeply grateful to our readers, advertisers, and writers who share their stories, goals, and feedback. Here’s to another 20 years of local voices and local news.
As always, thanks for reading.
