December 24, 2015
A publication of
VO LU ME 71 | ISSU E 7 | 50 ¢
A DA M S C OU N T Y & J EF F ERS ON C OU N T Y, C OLOR A DO
WestminsterWindow.com
Local groups back SCFD reauthorization Funding changes proposed in extension to 2030 By Clarke Reader creader@colorado communitymedia.com More than 100 organizations and governments in the metro area — from the
Adams County commissioners, Jefferson County Cultural Council, Lakewood City Council and South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce — have come out in support of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District funding reauthorization. “This support is very important to us, because we have a lot of work ahead of us,” said Dan Hopkins, SCFD
board chairman. “It’s going to take a good grassroots, community-based effort to get this reauthorization passed.” The proposed reauthorization would continue the current 1 cent on $10 sales tax through 2030 to provide funding for scientific and cultural facilities in seven counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas (except for Castle
Rock and Larkspur) and Jefferson. “Our council voted unanimously to support this extension,” Lakewood mayor Adam Paul said. “We here in the city really benefit, but it’s also a one-of-a-kind thing for everyone in the region.” To ensure the question is on the ballot this November, SCFD continues on Page 8
BRANTNER SCHOOL BREAKS GROUND
Snow wallops north metro
Forecast fell well short of reality as windy storm hit By Corrie Sahling csahling@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Brantner Elementary School principal, Michele Saller, watches as students shovel dirt and “break ground” for the school’s $6.7 million expansion. Find out what else the district has planned on PAGE 2. Photo by Corrie Sahling
Senior Hub executive director steps down Yeoman retires after 22 years on job with agency By Corrie Sahling csahling@colorado communitymedia.com Howard Yeoman, executive director of Senior Hub in Adams County for 22 years, is retiring at the end of the year. Senior Hub is a nonprofit resource center for seniors in Adams County. “I feel that I’m leaving the company in good condition,” Yeoman said. “I think it’s a good time for me. I’m confident the business will be in good shape for quite a while.” Yeoman started with Senior Hub after moving back
to Colorado with his wife in the 1990s. P r e v i o u s l y, he worked in marketing for Denver area hospitals and Yeoman then moved to Michigan and worked with the University of Michigan while his wife earned her master’s degree. After having their son, the couple decided to return to Colorado, and Yeoman saw it as a chance to do something different. “I wanted to do something with a company that helps people,” Yeoman said. “The opportunity with Senior Hub appealed because it gave me the chance to be CEO and
the freedom to improve a business. That’s why I never looked for another job.” Yeoman said he is proud of many things in his tenure at Senior Hub, including the low turnover of core employees. Since it is a nonprofit, he said they can’t pay as much as other jobs, and typically would see more turnover. He is most proud of the organization’s growth. “We added several new services and expanded the area that we serve,” Yeoman said. “That felt a little bit like success for me.” As for deciding to retire, he said the time felt right. “I turned 65 last week,” Yeoman said. “So I qualify for Medicare, which was important to me. I’ve saved a
lot for my retirement, but I didn’t want to spend that all on health care.” Yeoman plans to renew his interest in his hobbies, photography and fly fishing; he said both take a lot of time and over the years he stopped enjoying them as much. “I’ll be doing repairs on the home. My wife is working on a list for me,” Yeoman laughed. “My wife is younger than me, and is waiting to be closer to Medicare before retiring. So I’ll be making dinner, which will be a new experience for me.” Yeoman said the program managers and other staff of Senior Hub are great and won’t miss a beat. “I expect not to be missed,” Yeoman said. “Not one bit.”
Although winter officially arrived Dec. 22, Westminster residents woke up to an early taste of the season and a large accumulation of snow Dec. 15, which city crews had been battling since 2:30 a.m. “The first three hours were whiteout conditions,” said Dave Cantu, street operations manager for the City of Westminster. “It was very difficult to see, and the wind played a big part in that, along with accumulation.” The city saw snow accumulations of eight to 10 inches, depending on location, but most places were closer to 10 inches, according to Cantu. “The accumulation amount was challenging,” Cantu said. “Half of what we actually got was forecasted.” In a combined effort that saw the Department of Public Works and Utilities join forces with the Streets Operations Division and the Utility Operations Division, the City of Westminster had about 47 workers attempting to clear streets. “It was a lot of hours that the guys put in,” Cantu said. “But they did good.” Westminster resident Mike Swendroski agreed. “I think they did a pretty good job. The wind is the only thing that really hurt them,” Swendroski said as he ran chores and paid bills the day after the storm. “They’d plow the street, and the wind would blow it right back.” The storm caused many closures and delays for schools and businesses across the Denver metro area. Many metro area school districts closed the day of the storm, including Jefferson County, Adams 12 and Adams 50. Mapleton School District, which is mostly located in Thornton, also closed Dec. 15. “Our primary concern is the safety of our children,” said Mapleton Superintendent Charlotte Ciancio. “So when our buses can’t navigate the streets safely, the most responsible thing to do is to call a snow day.” On Dec. 16, cities went back to normal schedules for the most part, and schools were reopened, but lingering problems remained. “There are still some items that need attending to,” Cantu said. “There are some areas around schools with snowpack. With the cold temperatures, it hasn’t been melting.”
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