December 10, 2015
VO LU ME 71 | ISSU E 5 | 50 ¢
HOLIDAY WORSHIP
SERVICE GUIDE INSIDE
A publication of
A DA M S C OU N T Y & J EF F ERS ON C OU N T Y, C OLOR A D O
WestminsterWindow.com
The Westminster Bell Ringer Northglenn counts recycling as success City lets residents try out free service By Corrie Sahling csahling@coloradocommunitymedia.com
The city of Westminster has 24 bells in their bell tower. The bells hang at the top of multiple flights of stairs. Photos by Corrie Sahling By Corrie Sahling csahling@coloradocommunitymedia.com It’s that time of year — Christmas bells are ringing. In Westminster, Robert Gift is the one ringing them. In 1988, the 14-story bell tower located at City Hall was finished and
Gift, a now 64-year-old Aurora resident, was asked by city employees to play the bells to celebrate. “It’s fun,” Gift said of playing the bells, “It doesn’t take a lot of practice.” Playing bells is not a career for Gift — he is a paramedic. But he has always had a passion for music.
While living near the University of Michigan and working as a student engineer, Gift would sneak into the campus and play the organs that music student’s used to practice. He laughs about it now, knowing he
The City of Northglenn promotes recycling in many ways, including children’s recycling drawings on its sanitation trucks and providing free recycling services to more than 9,000 single-family homes. “We want to have a sustainable future,” said Steve Grace, operations manager for the Northglenn Public Works Department. “Even if we put economics away, recycling can reduce our footprint.” When the free recycling program began in 2011, the percentage of the city’s residents who were recycling wasn’t even at 50 percent. Since then, the number has grown, and with only a month left of 2015, this year’s goal of 75 percent of residents recycling is within reach. “We’ll make sure we make it,” said Brigid Sherrill, administrative assistant. “And we’ll set a new goal in 2016.” To encourage residents to recycle, the sanitation team will drop off recycling bins to homes with a tag explaining the program. Residents can try it out for 30 days, and if they like it, they can continue the program for free. If not, residents can call and the bin will be picked up. “Most people keep it,” said Keith Kovach, municipal services sanitation foreman. These trial bins bring in the biggest Success continues on Page 23
Ringer continues on Page 6
JOYOUS NOEL Carolers were among the entertainment options at this year’s Noel Northglenn. See additional photos on Page 6. Photos courtesy the City of Northglenn
Community third grade art adorns the side of Northglenn’s new recycling trucks. Courtesy photo
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