WEEK OF DECEMBER 19, 2024
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 25
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Arvada City Council appears split on city’s role in addressing homelessness BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Eggnog is passed out outside the Arvada Tavern.
PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN
9th Annual Olde Town Eggnog and Cider Competition sees bolstered attendance despite snow Bluegrass, Flights, Hunter Bay and La Dolce Vita claim top popular vote honors BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A chilly dusting of snow didn’t keep merrymakers out of Olde Town Arvada for the 9th Annual Eggnog and Cider Competition, which saw record-setting attendance this year. 600 folks came to sample the finest sips in the historic district, up from the event’s previous cap of 500 attendees, Olde Town Arvada Business Improvement District Director of Marketing and Events Stephanie Paul said. This year’s winners in the competition, which was held on Dec. 9 and determined by a vote of the attendees, saw the Bluegrass Lounge win in the Traditional
Eggnog category and Flights Wine Café earn top honors in the Traditional Cider Category. Meanwhile, in the non-alcoholic category, Hunter Bay scored top Non-Alcoholic Eggnog honors, while La Dolce Vita took home best Non-Alcoholic Cider. A total of 238 votes were cast this year. Bluegrass earned 67 in the hotly contested eggnog category (Marmalade Lounge finished second with 53 votes), while Flights got 93 votes for their cider, Hunter Bay scored 106 tallies for their non-alcoholic eggnog, and La Dolce Vita finished with 90 votes for their nonalcoholic cider. Paul said that the additional tickets
were added due to the demand and that even with the added capacity, the event sold out faster than usual. “We added an additional 100 tickets just due to the supply and demand we have had, and we completely sold out faster than we ever have, which is amazing,” Paul said. “We really appreciate the Arvada community supporting the Olde Town Business Improvement District, as well as the local businesses.” New to the competition this year were Fuzzy’s Tacos, the Grandview Tavern, Homegrown Tap and Dough, and Lady Nomada, which all participated for the first time.
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Arvada City Council held a study session to discuss the city’s approach to dealing with homelessness within its borders and came out of it appearing no closer to a resolution than when the session began. Councilmembers appeared divided on the central question of the day, which revolved around what the city’s role in handling homelessness should be going forward. Councilmember Bob Fifer, for one, suggested that the city adopt language meant to hone in the scope of the city’s involvement in the issue, which he proposed to the group to a mixture of agreement and derision from the rest of the elected official present at the Dec. 7 meeting. “To build an inclusive and resilient community where everyone has access to safe, stable and affordable housing by fostering collaboration, innovation and support to eliminate homelessness and address housing challenges for Arvadans,” Fifer’s suggested “North Star” direction read. Councilmember John Marriott disagreed with Fifer — and, in turn, the other four councilmembers, who seemed to support Fifer’s view, at least in part — stating that he views the problem differently. “I don’t think the city has any stake in affordable housing,” Marriott said.
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