1) Snarfs Opens in Mayfair Plaza

Snarfs Sandwiches has opened a new location in the Montclair neighborhood on 14th Avenue and Krameria Street. The family-owned restaurant started in Boulder in 1996, and the toasted subs on the menu and the colorful décor in the restaurants enabled Snarfs to develop a loyal following and expand throughout the Front Range. Snarfs is also known for selecting old buildings in historic neighborhoods for its locations, which made Montclair an ideal community and the 1950s building an appropriate setting.

Snarfs Sandwiches is now open in the Montclair neighborhood at 14th Avenue and Krameria. The chain originated in Boulder in 1996.

2) Westerly Creek Election Results

The election for three new board members in the Westerly Creek Metropolitan District wound up being a close race with a dramatic finish. The five-member board of the WCMD had three openings in May due to term limits, and six candidates were vying for those available positions. The tight results of the election required the WCMD to conduct a mandatory recount of the ballots. The recount verified that Robert Marsh was the first place winner with 593 votes, Jack Seward won the second open seat with 497 votes, and both Barbara Dornseif and Matthew Blackburn were tied for the third seat with 471 votes apiece.

The third-place status of those two candidates triggered the tie-breaking protocols of the WCMD. According to the rules, if seats are available for both candidates who are tied, both candidates can claim the given seats. But because Blackburn and Dornseif were vying for the third and final seat, the rules required the WCMD to break the tie by performing a lot drawing and by essentially picking a name out of a hat. The lot drawing was conducted on May 19, and the winner of the final seat was Matthew Blackburn. As a result, Robert Marsh, Jack Seward, and Matthew Blackburn have been certified as the three newest board members for the WCMD, and their terms will end in May of 2027.

3) Stanley Marketplace Ownership Correction

There has been no change in ownership at the Stanley Marketplace. Stanley JV owns the marketplace and is a joint venture partnership between Flightline Ventures and Westfield Company. The original article in the Updates section of the July Front Porch that a change in ownership had occurred was incorrect. We sincerely apologize to our readers, to Stanley Marketplace, to Flightline Ventures, and to Westfield Company for the error.

4) Non-Profit Kids’ Soccer League

Yeti United, a new non-profit soccer league, has opened in Northeast Denver to provide kids from all socio-economic backgrounds with an affordable opportunity to hone their skills and enjoy the sport. The Yeti United league was created by Central Park resident Barry O’Connor, who moved here from the United Kingdom with his wife and two children. O’Connor was inspired to start Yeti United when he was surprised that the prices of youth soccer leagues in Denver were substantially more expensive than the leagues in the UK. He officially kickstarted Yeti United in June, it is available for all kids ages 3-8, and he hopes the experience can prepare the kids to play in more intense clubs and competitive leagues as they reach older ages and progress to more advanced levels.

Barry O’Connor, who stared the non-profit soccer league Yeti United, coaches a class of U6s (under 6 years old) in the North end of Central Park. O’Connor started the league in June and now has four teams.

Parents can enter their kids into the league for a one-time $25 fee that is used exclusively to purchase the uniforms and provide the equipment. O’Connor encourages groups of friends or families to establish teams of 5–7 players and welcomes parents to volunteer as coaches for their respective teams. However, kids who would like to join the league but do not have a large enough group can still be placed on teams that have open spots for additional players. Yeti United currently has four teams, the league holds practices at a park on 59th and Chester, and games are scheduled according to the dates and times that are most convenient for the players and coaches. Parents who would like to sign up their kids or volunteer to coach can get more information at www.yetiunited.com.

5) East Colfax Neighborhood Mural

The new mural featuring the logo for the East Colfax Cultural District has been painted on the side of Tiger Kim’s Academy of Taekwondo, located at 7000 E. Colfax Ave. The process began last October when the district hired local artist Sam Hutch-Ouranos to develop a logo that could represent the character of East Colfax. In the ensuing months, different variations were considered, resident surveys were conducted, and community meetings were held to eventually determine the final version of the East Colfax logo. Hutch-Ouranos painted the main features of the logo on the side of Tiger Kim’s Academy, and on June 3, all residents were invited to participate in the process by also painting portions of the mural. The community mural and East Colfax logo were intended to reflect the diversity of the district, the creativity of the residents, and the camaraderie of the neighborhood.

Local artist Sam Hutch-Ouranos created an East Colfax logo and painted a mural of it at Tiger Kim’s Academy of Taekwondo at 7000 E. Colfax Ave.

Front Porch photos by Christie Gosch