December 6, 2012
50 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 68, Issue 7
Giving gifts to those less fortunate By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com In its fourth year, the annual Precious Gift Program is well under way. The program is sponsored by A Precious Child, a nonprofit organization devoted to making a positive impact in the lives of disadvantaged and displaced children and families by improving their quality of life. The program provides gifts for children who are living in shelters or foster homes in the north metro-Denver area, and those facing challenges. Last year the program provided gifts for more than 4,000 children, and this year the
program is set to provide gifts for more than 5,000 children. “Every year we rely heavily on the support from the community to provide holiday gifts for children who would otherwise have been without them,” said Courtney Rogers, director of programs for A Precious Child. “This year we have been overwhelmed with requests, and we are hoping, with the help from the community, to fulfill the holiday wishes of all of the children in need.” Community members can participate in the Precious Gift Program by organizing a toy drive; hosting a giving tree, which is hung with gift tags for a chosen number of children; or by sponsoring a child, family or
list of children. Rogers said individual sponsors are encouraged to donate $50 online at www. apreciouschild.org, which would sponsor one child’s wish list. She said for larger groups, such as businesses, the giving tree is a great option because each person or employee can sponsor a child on the giving tree. ”Our goal is to bring normalcy to these children and families during the holidays,” she said. “We want the parents to feel empowered that they are able to provide for their children, and we want the children to feel the joy of waking up on Christmas morning with a gift under the tree.” Members of A Precious Child will collect
toys until Christmas Eve at the A Precious Child giving tree in the food court at FlatIron Crossing in Broomfield. People can also choose a child to sponsor from the giving tree. For more information, go online to www. apreciouschild.org or email Rogers at courtneyrogers@apreciouschild.org. “The best part of the Precious Gift Program is how it is truly a collaborative effort. We partner with over 30 different social service agencies to collect the gift wishes of the children who are most in need,” Rogers said. “We then partner with the community in order to fulfill these children’s wishes. With everyone’s help, we are all able to make a difference in a child’s life.”
Lights illuminate City Hall By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com
The marquee for Chelsea Park in Westminster is covered and surrounded Oct. 21 by items left by community members in memory of Jessica Ridgeway, who was abducted while walking to the park and then murdered. The park is being renamed Jessica Ridgeway Memorial Park. Photo by Andy Carpenean
Park renamed in memory of Jessica Ridgeway By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews. com During a time of sorrow and tragedy, Chelsea Park in Westminster was a place for comfort and peace, and now it will bear the name of the girl who was headed there before she was abducted and murdered. It was at the park, where 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway was to meet friends before school on the morning of Oct. 7, that community members gathered for prayer vigils and paid their respects to Jessica by bringing flowers and gifts to memorial sites. Now, with the approval of Westminster City Council, the park will serve as a permanent memorial through being renamed as the Jessica Ridgeway
‘I want to thank all of our community for supporting us and Jessica in the manner in which they have.’ Rebecca Ridgeway Memorial Park. The council voted unanimously to rename the park during its Nov. 26 meeting. The quest to rename the park was led by Westminster resident Linda Mitchell and members of the Noon Rotary Club. Mitchell and Jon Johnston from the Rotary Club both sent letters of support to Don Tripp, director of the Parks, Recreation and Libraries Department, expressing their desire to make the name change. The Parks, Recreation and Libraries Advisory Board
POSTAL ADDRESS
voted 6-0 in support of renaming of the park before the proposal was sent to council. The city will pay $2,500 to repaint the park signs, with the funds coming from the park’s general capital improvement fund. According to a staff report, preliminary plans to improve the park are already in place and will cost between $250,000 and $350,000, with only $85,000 currently available from past capital improvement projects. Private fundraising is needed to complete the project, and the Ridgeway family has asked that community volunteers be included in making the improvements.
Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.
“I just want to tell you all thank you for allowing the motion of the park to even come to this level,” Rebecca Ridgeway, a family member of Jessica’s, told the City Council. “And I want to thank all of our community for supporting us and Jessica in the manner in which they have. I know we’re all really thankful for living in Westminster, a great community.” City employees will begin painting the signs in Jessica Ridgeway Memorial Park in the next week or two, and work is set to begin on the improvements of the park in 2013. During the council meeting, Mayor Nancy McNally thanked Rebecca Ridgeway for allowing City Council to get to know Jessica. “There is no way to say thank you enough,” she said. “You have been a role model to all of us in the community. Everything I have seen and watched, and going to Jessica’s memorial service really was a blessing to the rest of us. Thank you so very much.”
Led by the Standley Lake High School marching band, Santa arrived in Westminster Sunday night to crowds of children. His arrival came during the annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony at City Hall, where thousands of lights illuminated the sky. Along with a visit from Santa, the evening featured musical performances by Victorian carolers, students from Mesa Elementary School and students from Crown Pointe Academy. Children from the Westminster Dance Company also performed a holiday dance. “Tonight is special,” said Mayor Nancy McNally. “We have to give a huge thank you to our park elves for working tirelessly and making sure every light is perfect” Families had the opportunity to warm up by the bonfire, and enjoy hay rides and free refreshments. Westminster resident Carol Montgomery said she tries to come to the event every year because it’s a free, festive night out with her family. “Tonight is just a fun time for my entire family,” she said. “My kids get to see Santa, and we all get to enjoy the wonderful lights.” The holiday lights will be on display in the evenings at City Hall, 4800 W. 92nd Ave., throughout the month of December.
The switch is flipped to light a Christmas tree during the 25th annual city of Westminster Holiday Lighting Ceremony Sunday at City Hall. Photo by Andy Carpenean