October 27, 2016
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VOLU ME 53 | ISSU E 11 | 50 ¢
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Northglenn-ThorntonSentinel.com A D A M S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
NORTHGLENN PROVIDES ‘SAFE’ HALLOWEEN EVENT
Measure 2A causes contention in Westminster Firefighters’ union, opponents disagree over need to collectively bargain By Josh Sumner jsumner@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Northglenn Director of Children’s Programming Kelli Scharfenberg, poses with Evelina Cruz, 2, of Northglenn, during the city’s annual Safe Streets Halloween, held last Saturday at Northglenn High School. Find more pictures from this event, as well as Thornton’s Trunk or Treat event, on PAGE 5. Photo by Stefan Brodsky
Volunteers ‘Make A Difference’ for seniors Joe Irvin, left, of Commerce City, and Joe Struska, of Thornton, work together to gather leaves at the residence of Englebert Oestreicher on the crisp fall morning of Oct. 22. Irvin, Struska and a handful of others volunteered to help pick up Oestreicher’s yard as part of The Senior Hub’s fall cleanup event. The event pairs the volunteers with senior residents whose houses and yards need spruced up before winter. Photo by Josh Sumner
The Senior Hub, Thornton Neighborhood Services put on fall cleanup event By Josh Sumner jsumner@coloradocommunitymedia.com An unseasonably warm fall morning was the backdrop as dozens of volunteer workers pitched in to help Thornton senior residents with house and yard chores as part of “Make a Difference Day.” The event is a partnership between The Senior Hub in Federal Heights and Thornton Neighborhood Services that pairs volunteers with residents who are physically unable to tend to house and yard work themselves. Workers rake leaves, weed gardens, mow grass and wash windows as part of the effort. The partnership seems to work out for both sides, according to residents and volunteers. “It means a lot to me,” said Thornton senior resident John Mesa, who could not move a pair of mattresses from his home without the help of the volunteers. “I try to do as much as I can around here, but it’s nice to get some help.” Many volunteers said they felt a calling to help. “I’m here reaching out through my church,” said volunteer Joe Struska, of
Thornton, who attends Calvary Community Baptist Church in Northglenn. “I want to help others and share the love of God.” “It brings us a lot of joy to help others,” said Holly Pickett, of Frederick, Colorado, who volunteered for the event with her daughter, Christy, and also attends Calvary Community Baptist Church. “It’s something I can do with my family.”
The Senior Hub’s cleanup events have been going on in the spring and fall for several years, said Jessica Gonzalez, The Senior Hub’s homecare coordinator. “A lot of area seniors are isolated or homebound,” said Gonzalez. “These are the main people we’re trying to help. They’re aging in their homes, and The Senior Hub is here to help them age a little bit more gracefully, and to help keep them in their homes.”
For the past several months, Westminster firefighters have been placing signs and knocking on doors to garner support for Measure 2A, which would give their union the ability to collectively bargain. Firefighters argue the measure would allow them to address the Westminster City Council officially on matters such as safety, wages and benefits, and would better position them in the case of a possible impasse resolution. “When we have safety issues and things that are really important to us, we want to have a direct line of communication,” said Chad Christian, Westminster firefighter and secretary of Local 2889. “We want to have conversations in a formal way.” But not everyone in Westminster agrees with the merits of Measure 2A and its possible outcomes. Bob Briggs, former Westminster City Council member and longtime city resident, is one of the backers of a local issues group known as Keep Westminster Strong, which has been campaigning with its own signs asking voters to shoot down Measure 2A. Firefighters “are sitting at the table and they’re being heard,” Briggs said. Measure 2A “doesn’t solve any issues. It creates a bunch more.” Christian said the relationship between the city and the firefighters is good right now, but that hasn’t always been the case. Christian said it has been difficult for his department to address the Westminster City Council in regards to its safety in the past. Past city managers and administrators have also been inaccessible in previous years, he said.
Firefighter continues on Page 2
PEACE IN OUR TIME
Local groups want to bring end to violent conflicts on the planet. SEE PAGE 14
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