Lakewood local

Local Lakewood posts.

By Charley Able • December 14th, 2010

Mayor’s 2010 wrap-up assessment credits city staff and “very, very engaged and active citizenry” as well as City Council for the city’s accomplishments. Neighborhoods, education and a falling crime rate also were at the top of the list in the mayor’s annual look-back.

Commissioners also appoint three new members to Library Board, two of them Lakewood residents, a day after announcement that libraries will not operate on Mondays. The closures are part of a cost-savings plan that also includes reduced hours for Edgewater, Wheat Ridge and Conifer community libraries.

Denver Business Journal selects City Hall as its “Best Place to Work” in the “mega” company category, one of four employers selected through interviews with employees.

Robert Ramirez (R) takes north Jeffco seat from Debbie Benefield (D) after close race is determined 16 days after the election. The result in the last state House race gives GOP a one-vote edge.

Proposed changes would take city’s smoking ordinance past the requirements of state law if City Council endorses the panel’s recommendations when the issue moves to public hearing next fall.

Teacher, who is on administrative leave from his teaching and coaching positions, was ordered to avoid contact with anyone younger than 18 when his bond was set at $20,000 Friday.

Arthur Louis Martinez could spend 45 years in prison for the July 2009 attack on a Lakewood woman who was out for a nighttime stroll in her neighborhood on Green Mountain.

Suspect in shooting of nightclub security guard is believed to be armed and should be considered a threat, according to Lakewood police. Two others have been arrested on associated charges.

Judge clears courtroom after defendant’s angry family members disrupt the proceedings by threatening jurors and the judge. Leyba could face life in prison without parole when sentenced in December.

City Council’s proposed Charter changes to allow longer prep time for special elections fail by nearly 4.000 votes each. Proposal to impound unlicensed drivers’ vehicles takes biggest ballot hit.

Colorado Christian University will enroll its first Bachelor of Science Nursing degree class in January. Lakewood-based university’s program is designed for working adults and is offered statewide.

Denver based company opens Lakewood site with free food, coffee and t-shirts for the first three dozen patrons in line and marks the city’s second eatery opening in less than a week.

Prescribed burns get underway after dry, windy weather abates. In addition to reducing potentially dangerous fuels, the burns also will help restore the recreation area’s natural ecosystem.

Lakewood’s first stand-alone Chik-fil-A restaurant opens on S. Wadsworth Boulevard, ending a cold night of camping for nearly 200 people hoping to win a meal a week for a year.

Budget calls for supplementing projected $1.6 million revenue-vs.-expenses lag with money from the reserve fund, but similar measures proved to be unneeded in 2009 and 2010, if year-to-date figures sales tax hold up.

Denver woman and her 8-year-old daughter killed in Monday’s accident. Another daughter, who is 10, was injured and hospitalized after the two-car collision and roll-over.

Council goes on record against proposal that would require seizure of any vehicle driven by an unlicensed driver. Police say it would require more staff and raises too many questions.

Respondents urge retention and recruitment of small businesses but more than half don’t recognize the names of elected city leaders. The survey also finds considerable dissatisfaction with the way tax dollars are spent.