What you need to know in Je erson County: Earth Day, RTD, art and more

BY JO DAVIS JDAVIS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

From art displays and planned Earth Day festivities to making public comments to RTD, here’s what you need to know in Jefferson County this week.

Kyra de Gruy Kennedy announces State House District 30 campaign

The 2024 election for the open State House District 30 seat is now a three-way competition. Kyra de Gruy Kennedy recently announced her candidacy with a video introduction. Check it out at her “Kyra for Colorado” campaign page.

WeeCycle in need of donations

WeeCycle is in desperate need of donations. The organization collects donations of gently used clothing, equipment, diapers, wipes and baby food for families in the community. It’s now time to restock some high-demand items, and you can help. Bring your gently used “cribs (manufactured in 2012 or newer), strollers, bassinets, pack ‘n plays, baby monitors, humidifiers, safety gates, and car seats” to one of the organization’s pop-up gear collection events happening through April 24. See WeeCycle’s website for more information.

New exhibit up at Lakewood Cultural Center ies” exhibit is up at the Lakewood Cultural Center. It is a multimedia project that also has a musical performancebased element. You can view that art at the Lakewood Cultural Center, free of charge, but you will need tickets for the performances. e nal performance is on April 21. Get tickets and nd out more on the Lakewoood the nal week of their month-long exhibit “Sustainable Mosaics.” e Lakewood Arts Gallery describes the exhibit as “their latest work built with found ‘or recycled’ material ... new art which changes things from trash to treasure in the eye of the beholder.” Can’t make it? e Lakewood Gallery has linked a virtual walk-through.

Earth Day celebrations e City of Lakewood’s Earth Day Celebration will cover the full day on April 22 and will include an electric vehicle ride and drive, storytime courtesy of the Je co Public Library, Nature walks, dancers, food and so much more. Get more details at Lakewood. org/EarthDay

Je erson County Open Spaces is celebrating Earth Day by giving some TLC to Welchester Tree Grant Park, and the community is invited to help. On April 22, join others as the sta leads groups on trails and around the space. e education will be hands-on as the volunteers work to maintain the grounds and the habitat. e event is described as “a way to protect wildlife and continue to provide healthy and safe nature-based experiences to our visitors.” For more information, check out the Je co Open Spaces website. Register online, as space is limited. e Colorado Energy O ce approved a grant to place charging stations for electric vehicles in Je erson County parks’ parking lots. “ e funding will support the installation of ve Level-2, dual-port EV charging stations on property owned by Jefferson County. Two charging stations will be installed for public access at popular county-managed parks, and three will be installed for internal eet use on county property in Lakewood.” e grant brings the county one step closer to ful lling the Climate Action Plan approved a year ago by the Board of County Commissioners. Get details on the project and the plan on the Climate Action Plan website. e Regional Transport District has opened its public comment period on proposed policy changes which, according to the RTD include “a recommended new fare structure, policies and programs intended to create a fare system that is more equitable, a ordable and simple.” Anyone from the public can review the changes at RTD’s Fare Feedback website and leave a comment. e public comment period ends May 22.

Speaking of electric vehicles...

Got comments for RTD?

Sustainability awards

It’s time for the annual Je erson County Sustainability Awards. Every year, the awards are meant “to acknowledge and celebrate environmental stewardship and sustainability e orts made by organizations, employees, students and residents in Je erson County.” Anyone in the community can submit nominations by April 26. Go to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners website for more information and to submit a nomination.