Transcript Wheat Ridge
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 29, Issue 23
PLAIN PRETTY
November 29, 2012
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwheatridgenews.com
Tighe topples Odom In a turn-around from early election results, Tighe defeats Odom By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com
Deborah McAllister uses an umbrella to shade her canvas while painting a scene at Prospect Park in Wheat Ridge Nov. 20. McAllister is with Plein Air Artists (of or being a style of painting produced out of doors in natural light), that as a group meet once a week in various locations. Photo by Andy Carpenean
City considers smoking ban Commission proposes ‘no smoking’ signs in parks, open spaces By Sara Van Cleve
svancleve@ourcoloradonews.com A new rule in Wheat Ridge may be a breath of fresh air for residents. The Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Commission is advocating for a rule prohibiting smoking in certain locations. “The latest compromise would be that smoking would be banned from all parks, open spaces and playgrounds in Wheat Ridge, as opposed to Breathe Easy’s proposal of banning it from everywhere,” said Parks and Recreation Commission Chairperson and District III Representative Guy Nahmiach. The proposal would place “no smoking” signs in parks and open spaces prohibiting smoking in those areas. The rule would not
be a law or ordinance, though, and would not be able to be enforced by fines or citations. “What we’re trying to do is empower parents in parks to simply point to a sign and say, ‘Please put out your cigarette. There’s no smoking here.’ We don’t want to use up valuable city resources, calling police to the park for somebody smoking,” Nahmiach said. He said the goal of the proposal is to protect children who are playing at the park so they do not have to be exposed to secondhand smoke and don’t have to move from where they are playing to avoid it. “It will make it a legitimate rule to protect my kids and other kids so they don’t have to move,” Nahmiach said. Whether smoking is allowed in parks is a
common question Nahmiach, a Realtor in Wheat Ridge, receives from clients. He said he thinks the rule can greatly benefit Wheat Ridge. “It is moving forward. Wheat Ridge is moving forward,” he said. “We’re continuing to see a majority of people expressing support for it.” If approved by council, Nahmiach said he thinks most Wheat Ridge residents will respect the rule. “It protects non-smokers, which is the majority of parkgoers,” he said. “It’s just considerate. It’s basic human decency and we have a lot of that in Wheat Ridge.” The Parks and Recreation Commission has been working on the proposal with City Council and Wheat Ridge Breathe Easy for about six months. Nahmiach said they expect the proposal to be voted on by council in December or January.
Sharing the spirit of season Santa, tree lighting highlight holiday celebration in heart of Wheat Ridge Staff Report Santa Claus, and much more holiday fun, is coming to the heart of Wheat Ridge. The Ridge at 38 is hosting a holiday celebration 4:30-7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, featuring a visit with Santa, the tree lighting and
other holiday activities. All night Wheat Ridge residents will have the chance to enjoy specials on goods, food and drink at participating Ridge at 38 businesses as well as shop at the pop-up artisans’ market, cast their vote for the best decorate storefront display, enjoy live
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holiday music and chow down s’mores at Right Coast Pizza, 7100 W. 38th Ave. At 6:30 p.m., the holiday tree will be lit on the Green at 38, West 38th Avenue between Wadsworth Boulevard and Reed Street, and guests can enjoy free hot chocolate, cider, cookies and snacks as they watch the city turn on the holiday cheer. From 4:30-6:30 p.m., celebration attendees can meet Santa at Wheat Ridge Cyclery, 7085 W. 38th Ave., and children can get their photo taken for free with him courtesy of Sarah Zollo Photography. During the two-hour celebration, residents can also participate in holiday arts and crafts activities at Teller Street Gallery and
Studio, 7190 W. 38th Ave., take a horse-drawn hayride down W. 38th Avenue and listen to carolers as they stroll the Ridge. After the tree lighting, Right Coast Pizza will host the Jingle Mingle, which gives everyone wearing a souvenir event glow necklace drink and food specials at the restaurant. The storefront decorating contest winner will also be announced during the Jingle Mingle. The Ridge at 38 is a commercial district in Wheat Ridge on West 38th Avenue between Sheridan and Wadsworth boulevards. The celebration will be on 38th between Upham and Reed streets. For more information, call 303-231-1300 or visit www. ridgeat38.com.
Casey Tighe is the new 2nd District Jefferson County commissioner. The county clerk and recorder certified the votes for the 2012 General Election on Nov. 21, and the final tally put the Democratic candidate Tighe ahead of appointed incumbent John Odom by 738 votes. Tighe’s 136,164 votes gave him just enough of a cushion to avoid triggering a mandatory recount. Tighe “I’m honored by the voters of Jefferson County, and I hope I do a good job,” Tighe said last week. The race results remain close enough that Odom or the Republican Party could request a recount and accept responsibility for the costs involved. A recount could begin as early as this week, and would be expected to take five business days. Odom could not be reached over the Thanksgiving weekend. There were several close races in Jefferson County this year, but none triggered an automatic recount. The county certified its vote results on the day before Thanksgiving. “Our elections staff performs a tremendous amount of work after Election Day to ensure that our accounting for this election balances and every eligible vote is counted,” said Jefferson County Clerk Pam Anderson in a released statement. Anderson’s office reported a total of 313,662 ballots were counted in this election, which is the highest number of ballots cast in an election in Jefferson County. Turnout for this election was at 96 percent of all active registered voters. When the polls closed on election night, Odom had been in the lead by 133 votes. “I was a little worried and disappointed, but still had hope,” Tighe said. Thousands of other ballots were counted after Election Day though, including military, oversea, and provisional ballots. Those ballots provided the 871-vote swing needed to grant Tighe the win. Tighe thanked his campaign manager Audrey Kline, and the coordination of the Jeffco Democratic Party for pulling out the close win. “I also think that voters in Jefferson County really listen to what a candidate says, and not just voting the party card,” Tighe said. Tighe will be sworn in and take office in January, alongside his fellow commissioners Donald Rosier and Faye Griffin.
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