Jo Davis jdavis@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Casa Bonita license plates, ice cream and a field day are just a few things happening around Jefferson County. Here's what you need to know going into May.
Arts and Crafts for adults
Wheat Ridge Parks & Recreation is offering a series of classes for people over 18. The latest is “Intro to Throwing Pottery” and is offered, like the other classes, at the Active Adult Center at 6363 W 35th Ave. in Wheat Ridge. The class begins May 12.
According to a social media post from the department, the course is designed to explore the elements of pottery — the clay, the wheel and the kiln. The class also identifies the physical benefits of pottery such as hand-eye coordination, developing upper body strength and engaging muscle memory for success in the activity.
Register for the class, which costs $45, plus additional fees for materials. For more information and to register for the class, go to the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation website. The site has information on art classes for kids, too.
Save lives working for Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation
The city of Wheat Ridge needs to fill 50 lifeguard slots for the summer. The position comes with paid training for the inexperienced and paid recertification for those who need it. According to the city's Parks and Recreation Instagram page, “New seasonal hires are eligible to receive a $100 sign-on bonus and $100 end-of-season bonus, free passes to recreation facilities and a scholarship opportunity.” Lifeguard candidates can receive free swim lessons, too.
The lifeguard position is one of several openings that the City of Wheat Ridge has available for summer. Some of those have sign-on bonuses as well. All of the positions are temporary and run through the end of the summer season. Dates differ with each position. Apply online or in person at the City of Wheat Ridge website.
Snag a little Casa Bonita for your car
The Colorado Disability Funding Committee is auctioning vanity license plates in honor of Casa Bonita and South Park. The auction honors the local landmark restaurant now owned by the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The plates are unique and include CLFDVERS, BUTTERS, CSABNTA and TACOS. About 16 plates are being auctioned starting at 8 a.m. May 15 through 7 p.m. May 25.
The license plates are legally recognized by the state of Colorado as belonging to the auction winner. See the CDFC website for details on how to participate in the auction. Proceeds go to the CDFC programs and grants to benefit Coloradoans with disabilities.
For more information and the full list of plates in the auction this year, visit the CDFC website. There, you can also register to bid before the May 15 auction begins.
The world’s largest ice cream cone is coming to Lakewood
The ice cream brand Muddy Bites is coming to Lakewood to celebrate the launch of a new ice cream product, Chocolate Cone with White Chocolate ice cream. From noon to 5 p.m. May 18, Muddy Bites and Walmart will partner in building an 11-foot-tall ice cream cone in the parking lot of Walmart on 440 Wadsworth Blvd. The brand partnered with social media influencer Matthew Beem. He will help with the production, certification of the world record and celebration (with free ice cream samples). The event is open to the public.
Muddy Bites is known for its bite-size cone snacks carried at over 3,000 Walmart stores across the country. Beem creates content for his 3.3 million followers across social media. For more information, visit the Muddy Bites website.
Get active with a Belmar field day
A few of the fitness brands that populate the Belmar Shopping Center are hosting a fitness event at the Plaza by Belmar on May 20. Registered participants will experience an intense hour of fitness provided by Pure Barre, StretchLab, CorePower Yoga and F-45 Training. Each fitness brand will host a 15-minute session. The brands lululemon and Modern Acupuncture will have pop-up shops. The event also boasts a DJ and other to-be-determined fun.
The Belmar Field Day begins at 10 a.m. May 20 at 7337 West Alaska Drive in Lakewood. The event is free to the public. For more information and to register, go to the event webpage.
Save the date in August
The Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival is slated for Aug. 11-13 at Anderson Park, 44th Ave. and Field Street. The Carnation Festival started in 1969 to celebrate the incorporation of Wheat Ridge. In its 54th year, the festival is free to the public.
The Carnation Festival website is also open. It has information on volunteering, sponsoring the festival, vending at the festival and also for participating in the parade. The website has more information on activities and events as well.
