FOR RESIDENTS BY RESIDENTS SUMMER 2020
Ted’s Sweetwater Grill and Trout Pond Opens! Bringing family friendly fun to NoCo one fish at a time
CONTENTS The quarterly Crossroads magazine serves the people, businesses, and events that takes place along Crossroads Blvd. in Weld and Larmiar counties.
Home Town Heros
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For story and photo submisssions please email nococrmagazine@gmail.com
Confetti Designs
Cover photos shot by Krystal Lind, owner of NoCo Photo
Windsor Fox Family Spring brings fox kits to entertain the whole town. pg 30
Creator Lisa Potts creates custom invitations for all your exciting events
RainDance River Resort RainDance River Resort opens with restrictions from the government. pg 31
Financial Planning Fort Collins
Read the story of the people behind the Financial Planning Fort Collins business. pg 44
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Cover Photo: Windsor Mayor Paul Rennemeyer catching a rainbow trout at the May 26th grand opening of Ted’s Sweetwater Grill and Trout Pond in Windsor.
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Girl Scouts of Colorado Go Virtual
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Meal Services... Are they worth it?
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RainDance River Resort Completed
Quarentine Porch Photo Project
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Cover Story Ted’s Sweetwater Grill and Trout Pond opens to the public
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Hair Cuts for Heros
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THANK YOU TO OUR NOCO A salute to a few heros of the NOCO community
Jennifer Holman I am a Registered Nurse specializing in Labor and Delivery and Post Partum I love living in Northern Colorado because of the lifestyle it has to offer, and the people who live here. We have such a great downtown area, wonderful places to eat, and amazing breweries to spend an afternoon at. I love having the mountains in our backyard for camping and hiking, and Horsetooth Reservoir is the best place to spend a day. The best part of my job is watching the miracle of life begin everyday. It never ceases to amaze me to witness a baby enter this world and see the joy and emotion on their parent’s faces as they become a family. Labor and delivery is a moment patient’s will never forget and it is an honor to be apart of such a special moment in my patient’s life. It is very fulfilling to me to share this moment with my patients and be able to help educate and support families as they adjust to their new family dynamic with a baby. I think education is power and I highly encourage patients to participate in childbirth education or newborn classes prior to their first baby. Labor and delivery is an experience that doesn’t always go according to plan, so it is beneficial for families to have general information prior to their arrival to help alleviate anxiety and fear they may be feeling regarding their experience.
Jennifer Milenski Nurse Practitioner for UC Health Pulmonary I’m a Colorado native. I love the variety of outdoor activities available to everyone here. I also believe that most people here care about a healthy lifestyle and value family oriented activities. The best part of my job is being able to make a positive difference in a patient’s life. Also, I work with an amazing team. I enjoy being a mentor to others as well as the opportunity to be a lifelong learner. I value the connections with my healthcare community and patients. CROSSROADS MAGA ZINE - 4
FRONTLINE WORKERS Jamie Goodrich - Peaceful Paws Therapy, LLC Behavioral Health Therapist I am a therapist for individuals, families and children. I specialize in play therapy and animal-assisted therapy. I love the beautiful, colorful sunrises and sunsets and the availability of outdoor activities in Northern Colorado. The best part of my job is being witness to someone realizing the beauty and strengths within him/herself and finding hope. I love being able to work with my amazing dogs, who are a part of this healing process. I am a therapist because I have a deep and abiding faith in the people of our community and want to serve as a guide to support individuals, children and families.
Mark Langness I am a Chaplain for Good Samaritan Fort Collins Village, Fort Collins. I provide full-time spiritual care for all of the senior residents of our community, as well as their families. We offer a continuum of care including independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing and rehab services. I conduct Christian non-denominational daily devotionals each weekday morning and Sunday morning worship services in our chapel. I also provide one-on-one spiritual counseling and prayer. An additional blessing for my ministry is the opportunity to provide end-of-life care for our residents and their families. As Chaplain I also bring spiritual support to our staff. I work closely with our staff in providing care for the whole person mind, body and soul. The best part of my job is getting to know every resident on a personal level and encouraging them in their relationship with Jesus Christ. From my early youth, I have always had a special heart for senior citizens. Over a near 50 year walk as a Christian, seniors have poured their lives into mine. I have a calling on my heart to serve seniors and help them experience a vibrant daily walk with Christ. Being in full-time ministry to seniors at Good Sam is the most fulfilling and satisfying work I’ve ever done. And to be joined by my wife, Jenny, in serving at the same community is a tremendous blessing in my life. My family and I have lived in Northern Colorado since 1995. We lived in Fort Collins for nearly 25 years. This past November we moved into a new home located in the RainDance development in Windsor. We love many of the outdoor recreational options available here in Northern Colorado including cycling, hiking and kayaking. And all of the great local parks give our young grandkids awesome playgrounds to play in.
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Kris Kazian Fire Chief of Windsor Severance Fire Rescue
My job entails assuring the fire, EMS, and rescue services are being met and focusing on excellence in our services for anyone who calls 9-1-1. We have a highly motivated and professional team of about 75 people from career, part-time and volunteer working 24/7/365 out of three fire stations and are about to build our fourth station on the corner of New Liberty and Hilltop in Windsor. All of the stations serve the nearly 100 square miles but each has its response area closest to the fire station as primary response area. Station 4 will serve Water Valley South, RainDance, Steeplechase, Bison Ridge and to the south to areas like Aims College. My family arrived in Northern Colorado Dec. 26, 2018 after living seven years in Arizona. My wife and I are both originally from the Northern Suburbs of Chicago. We missed the four seasons while in Arizona but do not like the four seasons Chicago provided. Northern Colorado provides the best of all worlds. We have also found that the people of Northern Colorado are genuine and enjoy the outdoors, the beauty of the Front Range and share a strong sense of community. While living in Sedona was not bad, there are differences of living in the southwest that my wife and I did not enjoy. We lived in Water Valley South while our home in RainDance was built. We just love both communities we lived in while in Windsor and have no intention of leaving. The best part of my job is getting to work with awesome people and our incredible community. I have always loved to help people and being in this field for over 30 years, I have been so blessed to do what I love. I love helping lead a group of motivated people and look to help develop their skills while they help me hone my skills. In the end, I get to be apart of a much bigger thing and do my small part. I truly feel blessed to have found this career and made the most of it...every day is a gift. I am motivated by the sense of purpose and the impact I get to make. This can be by the stories I am told by people I meet in the grocery store or by those who actively seek me out to tell about the amazing things the people of WSFR are doing. While I work on the broad strokes of leadership in the organization, many of our people are already programed for doing the right things. Many people on our team grew up here and have chosen to stay and serve their community because it is “their” community. I also do it because being a firefighter is something that once it gets in your blood, you are hooked. I can not imagine doing anything but this day and night.
What is the Fire Department doing to help manage the COVID-19 crisis? We have instituted our Senior Leadership Team, which is nearly working around the clock, to cypher through scientific data, best practices, as well as learn what lessons can be gleaned from other regions that have had experiences we can learn from. We have developed a supply chain process, where we have biometric screening for our personnel when they arrive, while they are working and when they leave. We are making sure our personnel are as safe and ready to respond for what could be the “best” case to the “worse” case scenario.
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Is this a nationwide or statewide response, or does each station respond individually? This is certainly a worldwide response as we have over 180 countries dealing with this. The challenge has been who is the agency responsible for this. It has been my understanding that something like this would be more directed from the national level since the entire nation is affected. It appears this is tending to be more left to the states to handle and the State of Colorado has been working well with the counties to provide assistance. In the end, WSFR is responsible to our community and works in conjunction with our respective County Health Departments (Weld and Larimer) for direction. We work with our local hospital medical direction and have a myriad of other people we work with to receive accurate intel and develop plans to be best prepared. Windsor and Severance leadership is meeting regularly to discuss pertinent issues and work together to meet what our boots on the ground are seeing and needing.
What have you implemented to keep the fire department healthy? The biggest things we have done are to develop guidelines to allow for clear direction on what to do if you are symptomatic, have been in close contact with someone who is a PUI, or is positive for COVID-19, or were exposed to a patient while in the course of your job. Our main intent is to avoid exposure to our people, and try to maintain a workplace that is free of illness to the best of our ability. We have biometric screening to look for signs of illness as well. We have also adopted the Family First Coronavirus Response Act where employees are provided with paid sick leave specifically related to the COVID-19 virus. We need our people to be comfortable with not coming to work and risk spreading the disease because of limited sick time. Our personnel have been very responsive with our objectives on this part of the plan thus far. We have had some folks with symptoms but all have tested negative. We are not confident that will be the case throughout our response but we are doing everything we can to reduce our exposure.
What are the biggest challenges you have faced so far and how did/are you dealing with them? Our biggest issue now is working to be prepared for what a potential “worse case” scenario might look like. Mostly from how we will be able to respond, but also from the community standpoint. With community spread, and if the death toll is dramatic, there are many concerns that brings for our community. We are all being impacted in many ways. The inconveniences and the significant financial and economic impacts are terrible but pale in comparison to those dealing with the death of a family member, neighbor or coworker. WSFR is working to have a scalable and flexible response plan ready to handle the current demand for service, as well as potential surge in demand to the best of our ability. If it over runs our capacity, things have gotten bad. We have also worked very hard to try and be transparent in our community messaging on where we are with our response needs and capabilities.
Is there a way for people to help you do your job better? Following the guidelines as set forth for the health and safety of everyone. Currently the recommendation is to wear a mask while in public. This is to really protect you from someone who is asymptomatic but contagious. I know it is not exciting to be in a mask but it is to help stop the spread. Stay Home and Stay Safe. It may be challenging in this nice weather but the sooner we flatten the curve and get to position where the healthcare system is prepared to handle the potential cases better, we will get back to a more “normal” lifestyle we all know and love. We all want to be back with our family, friends and neighbors but the best things we can do is reduce the spread of the infection and stay at home. Lastly, the data clearly shows that washing your hands and sanitizing areas where there is common contamination will be key to you not getting sick. While I do not have actual data being provided, from what we have seen, I believe our community is doing a good job and working to stop the spread of COVID-19. We need to hold our ground and maintain this protocol for as long as necessary to get us through this tough time with the least amount of illness and deaths. I know it is tough, and for some, they do not see the need but the science tells us we all need to do our part. Please stay safe and know I am always here if you have any questions. CRO SSROA DS MAGA Z I N E - 7
Brian M. Schonfeld I am a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician with Highland Rescue Team Ambulance District. We serve as the Emergency Medical Service providers for the communities of Genesee, Lookout Mountain and Idledale. Additionally, we cover Interstate 70 from the Morrison Exit (259) to just past the Evergreen Exit. B e i n g b o rn a n d ra i s e d i n C a l i fo rn i a , I l ove experiencing the full four seasons we have out here in Northern Colorado. I also love being so close to the mountains and being able to explore our great parks and trails on the weekends. The best part of my job is without a doubt the ability to help people in their time of need. Oftentimes it’s just being a calm and reassuring presence. But there are times when you can make an immediate and positive impact in someone’s life, and that feels really good. I enjoy helping people, and I also enjoy the knowledge and skills that I’ve gained being an EMS provider. I am fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time on several occasions since I became an EMT, and it’s nice to have not only the knowledge but skills and confidence to make a difference. The way you can help during the current COVID-19 pandemic is by letting the dispatcher know when you call 911 if you’re experiencing any symptoms of the illness (coughing, fever, tiredness). That will help us get ready as we prepare to come into your home, place of work, etc. And whenever you’re waiting for an ambulance to arrive, if possible, send someone outside to flag us down. When we pull up onto a scene a million things are running through our heads and having somebody show us exactly where to go and give us that first bit of information as to the situation is immeasurably helpful.
Amy Danley, RN, BSN, CCRN, CMC My title is Critical Care Outreach RN. I am an ICU RN and have been a nurse for 19 years. I respond to all inpatient emergencies (Rapid Response, Code Blue, Full Traumas in the ED, Massive Transfusions). I also initiate Stroke Alerts. I rescue and resuscitate patients all over the hospital. I’m from Northern Colorado and have only lived here and in San Diego while in college. I like the weather, the open spaces and all of the fun things to do here. Rescuing a patient from deterioration is very rewarding. They never remember me but their families do. I do it because I’m an adrenaline junkie!
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Cassandra Williams, MSW, LCSW I am the Executive Director and Psychotherapist of a private practice, Bonding and Behavior, in Greeley. The focus of our work is providing therapy services for complex trauma to children and adults. Although we generally provide service in office, we are currently fully telehealth (video sessions). Northern Colorado is a beautiful place to live and a wonderful community to raise a family. Professionally, I love developing services in this area. Many parts of NOCO are still relatively rural, which comes with a need for service development and training. T h e b e s t pa rt of my j ob i s m a k i ng i m p a c t f u l connections, and positive change with individuals and families. Providing support when it’s needed most. I do this job to empower people to find their own capacity to heal because trauma is not our fault, but the healing is our responsibility. Be kind to each other.
Jessica Pullara Registered Nurse II for UCHealth at Poudre Valley Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit I a m a C o l o ra d o n at ive a n d I c o u l d n o t imagine living anywhere else. I love the weather (as unpredictable as it may be), spending time outdoors and enjoying all that this beautiful state has to offer, and the amazing community. The best part of my job is caring for others and meeting people from all walks of life. I also enjoy the challenges of ICU nursing and the variety of patients each day brings. No two shifts are the same. Another wonderful part of my job is my amazing coworkers whom I could not do this job without. Since a young age I knew I wanted to care for people and nursing is where my path led me. I have never been able to see myself doing anything but nursing. It gives me a great sense of fulfillment knowing that I have possibly made a difference in the lives of others. I hope that with each patient I care for I shed a little light on what could possibly be the darkest time of their life and that of their family. The outpouring of support and encouragement from the community during this trying time has been absolutely wonderful. Knowing that there are people out there that support us and are grateful for our efforts keeps us going and makes it all worth while. CRO SSROA DS MAGA Z I N E - 9 CRO SSROA DS MAGA Z I N E - 9
Jeremy Miller and Emily Schlehuber (married) Jeremy: I teach English as a second language and am the head baseball coach at Thornton High School. Emily: I am an English teacher and softball coach at Preston Middle School in Fort Collins.
What do you love about living in Northern Colorado? Jeremy: I’m a proud NOCO native and I raised my kids here too. Northern Colorado is home to our families, dearest friends and favorite hobbies. The communities are wonderful, and we love all of the local businesses. Emily: I am a Fort Collins native. I love being close to both of our families, the mountains, and our alma mater. Go Rams!
What is the best part of your job? Jeremy: I come home feeling fulfilled every single day. I love working with kids, coaching baseball, and working with peers to better the future via our youth. Emily: The best part of my job is hands down getting to work with kids every single day. I learn something new each day, and there is not a single day where I don’t smile or laugh. Middle schoolers rock.
Why do you do it? Jeremy: I returned to school in my early 30s to become a teacher because nothing ever made me feel as fulfilled and happy as working with the youth. I spent a lot of time in my own children’s schools over the years, and I realized it was where I belonged; my calling if you will. Emily: I come from a long line of teachers. I saw the impact my dad made on young people’s lives, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. The youth are our future, and I want to be a part of that.
Is there a way for people to help you do your job better? Jeremy: Just support us and understand that most of us never stop trying to be better for your kids. I non-stop learn and stay up to date with best practices, so I can make each and every day the best it can possibly be for kids; both as a teacher, and a coach. Emily: Especially now with new online learning, I think patience and understanding is key. If we all work together, we can do this. At the end of the day, we all have the same goal, to do what is best for kids.
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Jenny Langness As the Director of Life Enrichment Good Samaritan Fort Collins Village, I am challenged with ensuring that the lives of our residents are as full and rich as possible. Our residents live in independent apartments all the way to 24/7 skilled nursing care. I make sure their emotional, creative, spiritual, community, physical and cognitive needs are met. In normal situations this entails a combination of on-site classes & events, outings and one-on-one interactions with staff. We are fortunate at Good Samaritan Village to have a full time Chaplain, two full time activity assistants and a full time wellness director. The team, along with numerous volunteers and paid vendors, help create an active schedule that offers something to meet everyone’s needs. In fact, the residents are the ones who drive our programming. As I like to tell them, “Everything on this calendar is a result of someone’s idea or request.” I love the people of NOCO, even though the population has grown since we moved here in 2003, it still feels like a small town. And of course, I love the weather - so much sunshine. And the landscape is hard to beat, and I especially love how quickly we can get into the mountains or up the river. The best part of my job is the people. I am surrounded by the most amazing people everyday. Our staff and residents are truly family. They take care of each other and demonstrate Christ’s love everyday in every way. I can’t imagine a more noble way to live out my Christian values while utilizing all the gifts God has blessed me with. I am privileged to uphold the sanctity of life no matter your age or ability. I help our elders continue to live out the purpose God designed them for. Today’s senior living communities are so dif ferent than they were 20 years ago so get rid of your preconceived ideas. The idea of “I’ll never put mom in a home” is such an outdated concept. Research shows that seniors who live in a high quality senior community have a much, much better quality of life. So come check us out and see for yourself (once our visitor restrictions are lifted). And volunteer! Our residents appreciate someone who takes the time to come and visit and participate alongside them in so many dif ferent ways. Pray for us. Right now, this is an especially challenging time and we could all use an extra measure of strength. And even when things get back to “business as usual” - the work we do is often forgotten. Lastly, think about how you want to live out your own days. Get informed and educated so that the burden of decision-making doesn’t fall on your loved ones. It’s never too soon to have those conversations and to make a plan.
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Todd Vess Battalion Chief at Windsor Severance Fire Rescue Growing up in a town of 200 in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado makes you appreciate the people who make up a community. The Windsor-Severance community is much larger than 200 people, but the small town feel and “togetherness” that gets us through the good times and the bad is just amazing. We moved here when the population of Windsor was around 3,000 people. Despite the population growing more than 10 times that in the last 27 years, the town has never lost its identity. I love that. The best part of my job is being constantly impressed by the dedication, talent and professionalism of our staff at WSFR. As a battalion chief, my job is to oversee onethird of the firefighters – the ones on my shift. When they are given a new task or challenge, they constantly exceed expectations. Their commitment isn’t something I can delegate or teach them. They come to shift with it in their hearts which is what makes our fire department so great. Back when I was the editor of the Windsor Beacon, I got to know the volunteer firefighters in town. Their dedication struck a chord, and I felt like that’s the kind of profession I want to be a part of. So, I joined as a volunteer, went to the fire academy and EMT school, and was fortunate enough to get hired full time by WSFR when we transitioned to a combination of paid and volunteer staff. I have 20 years on the job now and I still love it every day. It’s difficult to say how people can help because when people generally call us it’s because they are having a really bad day and it’s our job to try to make it better. The support we get from our residents and businesses is outstanding. Honestly, I can’t think of anything different I’d ask them to do.
Skye Gray Clinical Nurse Educator for Banner Health I assist with on-boarding new clinical staff for all three Banner hospitals in Northern Colorado. I also teach AHA classes, and rollout education to clinical staff. I love NOCO because of the beautiful mountain views. The best part of my job is being able to help other nurses, share my knowledge and teaching. I do it because I love keeping busy while helping others. It feels good when you see others learning and applying the knowledge. Being kind and treating others with respect helps me do my job better.
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Danna Morey I am the Owner/ Director of Kid’s Haven in Windsor. I do all the accounting in the office, but I also help out in the classrooms. I always tell my staff I would not ask them to do something that I would not do myself. That includes helping with the children, cooking and cleaning and van runs when needed. It keeps me in touch with the children who are like my family. I grew up in Windsor, as well as my dad and my grandparents. I love it here. Even if Windsor has grown so much over the years, it still has a hometown feeling. The people do truly care about each other when times are tough. We made it through the tornado and we can make it through this. The best part of my job is the staff and children. This is not an easy profession. The staff come to work with positive attitudes everyday. I have so much respect for them and their dedication to the children. We become very attached to the children. We see some of them 9 - 10 hours a day. It is fun to watch them grow up. I have been doing this for 36 years and it never gets easy to see them go off to school. The biggest challenge of the COVID19 crisis has been making sure that the children and staff stay safe. We are still operating for the essential workers. We h ave m a ny m e d i c a l a n d l aw e n f o r c e ment parents, as well as the parents who are trying to keep the community going economically so we can have our lives get back to normal as soon possible. This means I have many families that are not able to attend or are choosing to stay home for safety. We could be shut down at any time if a staff member or family gets the virus. We have many rules and regulations we must follow to make sure we continue to follow every protocol the Weld County Health Department has mandated for childcare. I could not do this without the staff who continue to come to work everyday. They have been the heroes. I did not remain an early childhood educator to become wealthy because that is not the case. I do it because I love the children. I have met some incredible families over the years and you cannot replace them with any amount of wealth. The ECE Teachers have one of the most rewarding jobs on the planet. They also have one of the hardest. Think of it as having a child’s birthday party with 20 kids eight hours a day. Over the last few weeks we have seen so many acts of kindness to bless families. I have had complete strangers call and pay for tuition for a single mother. I have had parents buy our staff meals to thank them for all of their hard work. It shows us that there are kind and loving people out there to get us through this. God is good.
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Jennifer Howell BSN, RN, OCN. Oncology Certified Registered Nurse at Cancer Care and Hematology UCHealth Cancer Center in Fort Collins I have been an oncology RN for 18 years. Nursing, in general, requires a multitude of clinical skills that can be taught and learned in school and with experience. Another element to nursing that can’t be taught is compassion. To be an oncology nurse, compassion is a requirement, not an option. It is the gift we have to get our patients through some of their darkest days. One part of my day is being able to provide love, laughter, and light during the cancer journey for my patients, as well as cancer treatment regimens. My day is filled with giving the most amazing patients a fighting chance against cancer. Chemotherapy treatments, immunotherapy treatments, and supportive care (such as IV hydration and blood/blood product transfusion) are what a typical day entails. Nurses are taught from the beginning that we treat the “whole” patient, not just the scientific aspect. The best part of being an oncology nurse is the human connection with my patients. It truly is a daily goal to be certain my patient and their loved ones smile or laugh when they are in my infusion chair receiving treatment. Cancer is a scary journey, not only for my patients, but their loved ones as well. If I am able to provide a little joy and sunshine while they are going through one of the most difficult seasons of their life, then I have provided the absolute best care I can. When you do what you love you will never work a day in your life. I absolutely love being an oncology nurse. I don’t “have” to go to work every day, I get to go. It is an honor and a blessing to be a part of my patient’s cancer journey. Northern Colorado has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 10 years, but the one thing that it has not outgrown is the sense of community. When one of our own is in need, the community rallies and those needs are not only met, but also exceeded. That is something to be proud of and certainly something that makes NOCO one of the best places to live year after year. The best advice I can give you is to get your yearly mammogram, do self breast exam monthly, and use sunscreen when out in the Colorado sunshine and exercise.
Nic Cumings-Denver Fire Fighter I love living in Northern Colorado because of all the amazing people. Even though Windsor is not anything like it was for me growing up, it still has some small town feel. The only time I didn’t live in Windsor was my time in the Marine corps. I enjoy working in Denver but glad my wife Sandi and I can raise our family here. The best part of my job is the controlled chaos we encounter on a daily basis. When we get called it’s usually someone’s worst day and if we can make things just a little better, then it is a success. I do the job because I have always been drawn to service and being part of something bigger. Trying to be someone my kids and family can be proud of. CROSSROADS MAGA ZINE - 14
Steve Wicker Patrol Corporal with the Larimer County Sheriff ’s Office and also new recruit with the Windsor Police Department I have lived most of my life in Northern Colorado. I am a Loveland High School Graduate (1992), worked at a family owned business in Loveland (Bear Alignment), love being so close to the mountains, and all the outdoor activities. I have loved teaching my children to fish and enjoy the outdoors. I love being able to talk to people and help those in need when I can. I love seeing the community come together to rally around others and their first responders. I have always wanted to help others and this career has given me a chance to live out service to others and my community. Everyone thinks that of ficers are too busy for the little calls. If people see something, they should say something. You never know when a call that comes in may tie to another case or help solve or link to other cases. Also when making a report try to have as many details as possible; license plates, descriptions, or photos that you took from a phone or video from your camera.
William Kilcoyne-Fort Collins-Police Officer I enjoy the outdoors, hiking, camping and off-roading in the Rocky Mountains. Nothern Colorado has an awesome family atmosphere, great schools, and there is always something to do. The best part of my job is helping the community and turning a bad situation good when I can. I do it because I have always had a sense of duty to my country and community. Usually when people call the police they are in a crisis situation and I find great satisfaction when I can leave a situation better than how I found it. The community needs to remember that police officers are part of their community and we are there to help them. Oftentimes police officers are seen as outsiders attempting to control the community and the reality is our families and I live in the community and we are just trying to keep the peace and be of service.
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Michelle Scallon Principal at Windsor High School
What do you love about living in Northern Colorado? I love the people and the sense of community. The mountains are beautiful and I enjoy all of the activities our community has to offer.
What is the best part of your job? The best part of my job is that I get to spend every day with 1,400 amazing teenagers. I love to see their creative, curious minds at work. Young people are astounding and I am certainly blessed to be right in the middle of all of their enthusiasm and creativeness.
Why do you do it? I love education, because it is an opportunity to help students become the best version of themselves. It is such an awesome feeling to see students engage in rigorous academia or participate in a sport or activity with a Windsor “W” on their chest - knowing what that “W” represents: strength, trust, accountability and respect. Courage, hope and love surround Windsor High School and I am truly honored to be part of the Wizard family.
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What measures have you had to take to deal with the COVID-19 crisis? Our district, under the leadership of Superintendent Dan Seegmiller, has done an amazing job rolling out a remote learning plan. Our goal is first and foremost to re-establish our connections with our students. We know that these are unsettling times filled with stress and worries. Our regular routines have been turned upside down. We also know that learning from home is not the same as learning in the classroom. With those thoughts in mind, we created a supplemental learning experience that allows students and families to engage in learning when and to what extent they are able, based on their own personal circumstances.
Is this a nationwide or statewide response or does each school respond individually? We have guidance and guidelines from our Governor and Colorado Department of Education, but have the freedom to navigate our own remote learning plan. Weld Re-4 has rolled out a consistent district-wide remote learning plan.
What kind of response are you getting from your students about all the changes? Our students have been amazing. This is an unprecedented experience for all of us. We want families to know that our first priority is everyone’s health and well being. Our students are resilient and will roll with the punches. Families and students have been very supportive of our remote learning plan, and we will continue to do what is best for our students.
What are the biggest challenges you have faced so far and how did/are you dealing with them? One of the biggest challenges we have faced so far is that we miss our students. Teachers did not have a chance to say goodbye. We will not see them in their Windsor sports uniforms, or perform concerts or perhaps even give them that final hug at graduation. We have arranged Google Hangouts/Google Meet meeting for teachers to connect with their students. We are very fortunate to have 1:1 devices in our district so that we can stay connected with our families during these surreal times.
Do you have a solution for seniors who are missing their proms and possibly their graduation? There is no solution to this situation. It is not what we planned. It is not what we had hoped for. What I do know is that we will find a way to honor the class of 2020. They are a wonderful class and I am so proud of them. Some of them came into this world the year of 9/11. They were in the first grade when the Windsor tornado hit. These kids are survivors. I don’t know how, and I can’t know when but we will find a way to honor and celebrate these amazing young men and women.
Is there a way for the community to help you do your job better? We are blessed to live in a community that is so supportive of our schools. There are several opportunities for people to become more involved including our booster clubs and Parent Teacher Advisory Committee. Check out our website https://whs.weldre4.org/ for more information on how you can become involved at WHS.
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Meghan Spina 7th Grade Science and Social Studies Teacher at Bella Romero Academy I love how friendly people are in Northern Colorado and of course the scenic views. The best parts of my job is forming relationships with my students and watching them light up when they comprehend the lesson being taught. This is especially wonderful when they get to experience hands on in labs what they have been studying. I do it for the fame and fortune...I’m kidding of course. But really it is satisfying when a student says they do not like science, and then they can’t wait for the labs and they are leading their table groups throughout the experiment. When the community rallies around their schools it really helps the teachers do their jobs better. Having members of the community come into the schools to help teach, share their experiences, talk about how education helped them get to where they are in life, and just overall show that they are invested in guiding our children to become the best citizens they can be.
Stephanie Davis I am a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) nurse at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley. We take care of sick babies born as early as 28 weeks. I love living in Northern Colorado (Windsor) because there is such a huge outdoor life. It is also very family centered and love that our three kiddos get to grow up here. It has a smaller town feel without giving up all the things to do. The best part of my job is seeing all those babies get big and strong and go home. I love fighting for our youngest, smallest patients and giving them a chance at life. The NICU is always happy to receive donations for moms who spend hour upon hour in the NICU with their babies or donations of blankets to give out if you are looking for ways to help. Another great idea is new books so moms and dads can read to their new babies.
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Melanie Nelson I am a registered nurse at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley and have worked there for four years. I have wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl and went to UNC to make the dream come true. I liked NOCO so much that I stayed here after graduating (meeting my husband also had something to do with it!) We love NOCO for the beautiful weather and the gorgeous views. The best part of my job is being able to help patients heal and learn more about their illnesses. I also really enjoy precepting new nurses and mentoring my peers as a charge nurse. I love the people I work with like a second family. We have definitely leaned on each other during these challenging times. The hospital staff as a whole (housekeeping, respiratory therapists, CNAs, pharmacists and the like) appreciate the outpouring of support we have received from the community. Stay healthy, stay safe and I will see you out and about in the community.
Kyle Bittel Nuclear Technologist After going to college at Colorado State I knew Northern Colorado was where I wanted to end up. It’s the best balance of the outdoors and g reat people. The best part of my job is getting the chance every day to make something that is intimidating seem tame. I have always found how things work to be fascinating. Our physiology is complex and makes everyday a learning experience. Getting the opportunity to do that and share that with patients so they feel comfortable and confident keeps me going.
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Colleen Lodermeier 5th Grade Teacher for Weld RE-4 I think the beauty of Northern Colorado speaks for itself. Everyday I see the mountains and am reminded how lucky we are to live in such an amazing state. I also like that, within an hour, you can be alone in nature or in the middle of a big city like Denver. The best part of my job, and the reason I do it, are essentially the same... the kids! Sounds cliche, but it’s true. My students bring energy, humor and purpose to my day. They keep me on my toes and challenge me to learn along with them. Teaching allows me to be creative, reflective and engaged daily. Community members can help teachers by remembering that we’re a team. I’ve always believed that a great school experience starts at home with families valuing the importance of education. Students, families and educators need each other and succeed only when we’re all in it together. I’ve been lucky in Windsor to have a school community that’s supportive and respectful.
Amanda Schriver Charge nurse-RN, long term care, day shift I grew up here. It is my epitome of home. I think I generally love everything about living here so I never left. I’ve been at my job for nearly seven years, from being a CNA to becoming a nurse. The best part of my job is the family that is made by the collection of residents and staff. They have watched me grow, and my family grow too. I am lucky that I love what I do. I get to do it. I love the history that my residents have, I love being able to care for an older generation. I love having multiple grandma’s and grandpa’s. The best way is to contact a facility and ask as each have different needs and it changes from day to do.
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Lindsay Van Dyke I am a Firefighter/Engineer for the Eaton Fire Protection District in Eaton. I am also an EMT. I drive and operate different kinds of fire apparatus for my department, as well as help perform basic medical needs. I love living in Northern Colorado because of the mountains, the beautiful weather (even snow...sometimes!), and the different communities. And, of course, my amazing family and friends who make it feel like home. The best part about my job would have to be said in multiple parts. First, the crew I work with. They’re a group of great guys who continuously teach me new things every day. Second, the community that I serve. There are a lot of great families that live here and are very supportive of the fire department. Third, the interaction with children of all ages. I love being able to teach and expand the possibilities for them in becoming future first responders. It’s so rewarding when a child says that they want to grow up and be just like you. And fourth, getting the opportunity to drive the fire trucks...fast! (and safe!) I do this job not just for the Eaton community but also for myself. This is a career that takes me outside of my comfort zone and pushes me to do better and be better. A way for people to help me do my job better would be to continue to follow safety and health rules. Have an understanding that everyone has a job to do, including civilians. Also that they continue to show great support for myself and my fellow first responders.
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Lisa Pott s , the owner of Confetti Celebrations , creates handmade stationer y and invitations for events such as weddings, bachelorette par ties, baby showers, bridal showers, and any of life’s other special events. This single mother to t wo young girls is also a full-time student obtaining a master ’s degree in school counseling while working full-time from home. Confetti is a business that supplements her income and helps her suppor t her girls...plus, she loves it! “ It ’s so much fun to have the privilege to be involved in these ver y meaningful times in my clients’ lives,” says Potts. “ I have always had a love for ar ts and crafts, so designing invitations for friends and family, as well as Etsy customers, was the logical nex t step. I have had a lot of success with the custom process because customers love to be involved in the design process and I love to bring their vision to life.“ She has de s igne d we dding inv i t at ions f or many bride s and has mul t iple f i ve -s t ar re v ie ws on Etsy. If anyone is in need of invitations for your wedding or event , please consider using Confetti Celebrations and suppor t this locally owned Nor thern Colorado business. Visit her shop at www. etsy.com/shop/celebrationsboutique
Beautiful Sample of owner and designer Lisa Pott’s work. CROSSROADS MAGA ZINE - 22
Colorado Girl Scouts go virtual Girls can meet a judge, earn badges, join a national service project, and more – all from home! Despite challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Girl Scouting is here for girls. The Girl Scout’s mission is of building leaders - who can navigate good times as well as uncertain ones - is critical. Even though troops are unable to meet in-person, Girl Scouts continue to make the world a better place. In fact, we’ve taken this crisis and turned it into an opportunity to try new things. The “Girl Scouts at Home” page on the Girl Scouts of Colorado website has resources and ideas for girls in kindergarten through 12th grade, bringing the exploration, fun, and learning of Girl Scouts to Colorado families statewide. Afterall, Girl Scouts isn’t somewhere girls go or something they do - it’s who they are day in, day out. Girl Scouts of Colorado’s Outreach Program team, which normally delivers Girl Scout programming to lowresource families and girls in underserved communities, has been creating a series of materials, including videos, to help girls earn badges and participate in Girl Scout-related activities from home - even if they are not currently Girl Scouts. You can see some of their resources on the GSCO YouTube page and blog (http://gscoblog.org/category/girl-scouts-news/girl-scouting-at-home/). The Girl Scouts of Colorado team is also working on a series of webinars to help Girl Scouts earn badges and connect directly with professional women, allowing girls to explore different careers. Upcoming webinars will feature a Colorado district judge and a musician/performer. The state chapter is also proud to partner with Girl Scouts across the country and around the world for a letter writing service project to support those in the community. The idea is simple: Girls write letters to people in nursing homes, senior residences, and assisted living facilities, including the dedicated staff and caregivers. This long-distance hug is a way to share good thoughts with these vulnerable and loved community members. About Girl Scouts of Colorado Girl Scouts of Colorado is 32,000 strong—more than 22,000 girls and 10,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world. Our extraordinary journey began more than 100 years ago with the original G.I.R.L., Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low. On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Ga., she organized the very first Girl Scout troop, and every year since, we’ve honored her vision and legacy, building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org.
Girl Scouts of Colorado 1-877-404-5708 girlscoutsofcolorado.org Twitter (twitter.com/gscolo) -or- Facebook (facebook.com/ girlscoutsofcolorado)
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Meal Services Over the last few weeks, our lifestyles have changed drastically. While we are being asked to self isolate, the way that we feed ourselves and our families is forced to evolve with the circumstances. Shortages in grocery stores and closed restaurants means we are cooking at home as best we can. If any of you are like me, that task is very daunting. I don’t know how to cook and have been trying to learn lately but if you didn’t grow up cooking, it can be very overwhelming. On a whim, and about a week before the Weld County schools were closed, I decided to sign up for a great trial promotion from Hello Fresh. And then I promptly forgot about it. I can’t tell you how grateful I was, when the box showed up just in time for me to have the kids at home full time. All the home delivery meals have sign up promotions, so in our isolation, I decided to try the major players and write about it. For each company, I chose three different meals that feed two people. I have one adult and two young children in my house, and have found these portions acceptable for our family. When my kids get older, I will have to pick the larger plans. All of the companies only offer meals that feed even numbers of people. The very best part of this business model is that I did not have to go to the grocery store. I should note that I paid for these myself, and none of the companies sent them to me for free because of this article.
Hello Fresh- www.hellofresh.com Regular pricing is $53.94 but I paid $21.76. It’s by far the best sign up deal! PROS: In my opinion, Hello Fresh is the one that has it all. The recipes are very tasty and easy, but not completely basic. I also found them to be quite healthy. What I really like about this one is it’s easy to eliminate the spicy parts for your kids, but still have seasoned food and still get that heat for yourself. All the spicy components are clearly labeled, and for the most part, separated from the non-heat spices. I kept all of the recipe cards from these meals because they can easily be recreated. CONS: I have noticed that the meals are a bit onion, and onion relatives, heavy. If you are not a fan of the lily family, you might be put off by these recipes. Don’t let that deter you, though. I have easily been able to either cut by half or leave out the shallots/onions entirely in the recipes, and felt that the food did not suffer. One other thing I noticed was that the portions are a tad smaller than the other companies. The meals didn’t always fill us up and we occasionally had to add fillers like bread. If I was going to continue with Hello Fresh beyond this article, I would need to step up to the four meal order. Otherwise, I was so impressed by the meals and the versatility to have a great meal that satisfies everyone in the family.
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Are they worth it? Home Chef- www.homechef.com Regular pricing is hard to discern for Home Chef as they don’t post it until after you pick your meals...but it is approximately $60 and I paid $34.70 PROS: These meals are very easy to understand and cook. The directions were very clear, great for the novice. They were simple and much preferred by my kids. This was the only company that sent a few of their meals with a cooking pan included. This would be great for someone who is low on kitchen tools. It’s not every meal, but the ones with the baking pans included are clearly marked on their website. CONS: The meals were a little basic for me. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it is worth mentioning that of all the recipes I have eaten, these were the least exciting for me as an adult. However, they were the most popular with my kids for that same reason. I had the hardest time choosing the meals because they just weren’t my favorite.I should note, I have already cancelled this subscription and won’t be using it again. However, I do think there is a place for this one in the market, especially for a very novice cook, or a family with picky eaters.
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Martha & Marley Spoon-www.marleyspoon.com The regular pricing is $53.94 and I paid $33.94 with the sign up promotion PROS: Elevated restaurant quality meals at the same price as the others. I am not kidding. I felt like every single meal could have been ordered at a restaurant. The food was incredibly delicious. This meal service would be incredible for a special occasion but might be a little fancy for every day eating, especially with young kids. That being said, this menu was by far my favorite to eat. CONS: It is not as accessible for the novice cook or palate (my kids for example). I had to Google some words like fronds (I know you might be laughing at me but I have never heard that term before) and was not exactly sure what they meant by a “generous pinch of salt.� They assume you have some staples that maybe are not so common for the novice...i.e. red wine vinegar. I should mention I did have white wine vinegar in my cabinet, which I believe to be a bit more common. Also, there are things in these recipes that are proprietary and pre-made, like the pesto in the roasted chicken meal. It was so incredibly tasty but not something you can keep the recipe card for a do on your own later. All in all, this one is my personal favorite. I will continue to purchase these meals, although, maybe not three a week, perhaps one would be enough for me and certainly for special occasions.
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Sun Basket-www.sunbasket.com Regular price is $71.94 and I paid $38.40 with their current promotion. This one has by far the most expensive regular pricing. PROS: I mean, wow, all organic and beautiful food but also super tasty and filling. I had no issues getting the kids to taste the food because it was appealing visually. I’m shocked but my kids tried and loved the kale salad! I am not sure how that happened, but I am definitely happy about it! The portions were perfect and the cooking instructions left nothing to the imagination, which is really great. A novice cook could most definitely prepare these meals and have no issues with the instructions. One other thing worth mentioning is most of the packaged ingredients are perforated to make them easy to open. This is the only company that did that. And while that might seem silly, you do need to keep scissors nearby for the other companies to open the ingredients. The perforation was a pleasant surprise. The recipes are not nearly as intimidating as the Marley Spoon meals, and just as delicious. Can you tell I am in love? CONS: Very much like Marley Spoon, this one also had some pre-made ingredients. It made the cooking process very quick but again, not something you could keep the recipes for and do again on your own. And, of course, the price. It’s the most expensive one by a lot but there is definitely a reason. The food is all organic and the meals are super healthy. Which, unfortunately, means the price goes up. Otherwise I have no other cons. If I could afford it, I would have this meal service every day. Sadly, it’s out of my reach, price wise, with the exception of special occasions, and I have a feeling that will be the case for a lot of people.
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Every Plate- www.everyplate.com
The regular pricing is $38.93. They were not running any sign up promotions. This meal service is meant to get the cost down for families, which I love. I am not going to lie, I went into these meals very skeptical. I did not think they would measure up because they were so simple, but I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong. PROS: Simple and quick, what’s not to love about that? The longest I ever had to be in the kitchen for these meals was 20 minutes. And for busy families, this is a huge value as far as I am concerned. There are just some nights that I don’t want to spend an hour on dinner and a half hour cleaning. One thing that I appreciate about Every Plate is they are the only ones who don’t assume you have staples like vinegar, and include little bottles of it when it is necessary for a recipe. That really makes things easy. And while the food is not organic, it still tasted great. I do wish they had an option to upgrade to organic meat, but I understand that in their efforts to keep the costs down, it is prohibitive. And honestly, they were really delicious meals that were popular with all of us. And I definitely need to mention the price. You can’t complain since it is so reasonably priced. CONS: This service is not trying to be organic like the other meal services are. The calories are higher, but where it lacks there it makes up for in convenience. And it is still going to be healthier then eating out for the most part.
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Blue Apron- www.blueapron.com The normal pricing for this option is $59.94. The deal was $39.94. I am not sure if the circumstances were different because of the nation-wide quarantine or not, but four of the 12 options were sold out when I signed up, which forced me to choose recipes I might not have otherwise chosen. This was the only company this happened with. It was also the only company that offered a wine paring with the meals, which I thought was fun and would be really handy if you were hosting a dinner party or date night. PROS: The recipes were all good. I have no complaints about the quality of the food or the recipes. The meat was organic, or at the very least humanely raised, which I really like. The one thing I can say is this company really didn’t leave a big impression on me either way. It was good, the food was nice, but forgettable. I am not sure if this is just a taste issue but I just didn’t have a lasting impression. CONS: There was a very distinct chemical smell when I opened the box after it was delivered, and that’s very unappealing. Once I took the food out, it seems fine and does not smell, so I think it must have been the packing material. It’s worth mentioning because my first impression was not so great, and it was the only meal service I had that experience. The recipe cards were smaller then the other companies with the exception of Every Plate, who had the same small size cards. Although it is a minor inconvenience, I definitely liked the bigger cards better. Overall, this one might be a matter of taste in the recipes. I will not be renewing my subscription to Blue Apron. Overall I am sold on these types of food services. I have really enjoyed taking this forced downtime to elminate the mystery of cooking. I have found that I am much more confident to try recipes on my own now and that is a true gift...to me and my family. Even though every company does it differently, they all clearly label the easy recipes vs the “gourmet” ones, allowing you to have control over the amount of time you spend in the kitchen. Some of the tips I have learned over the course of the last month is that the little condiment bowls are really handy to have around. If you don’t have them, you should get some before starting one of these services. You likely already have the main utensils, but here is the list for your convenience: Baking pan, 10” frying pan, a sauce pan, a colander, a food grater, little condiment bowls, a sharp kitchen knife, cutting board, measuring cups and spoons and stirring utensils (large spoon and spatula). If you have those things you can do almost every recipe, with the exception of Marley Spoon that assumes you have a few more things in your kitchen. I have gotten so comfortable cooking during this time and experimenting with all of these companies, and will forever be grateful for them. That being said, I am going to continue with Every Plate and Marley Spoon, and will probably cancel the rest. Even so, I don’t have many negative things to say about any of them. You will have to decide what works best for your family!
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The Windsor Fox Family Driving east on Eastman Park Drive you will come across the open space in front of the Cornerstone Baptist Church. For decades, this open space has been the home of a family of foxes. They have been breeding here for many years. Male foxes are often called dogs, and female foxes are called vixen. Their pups are termed kits. Black foxes are frequently called silver foxes, since the black fur on their hindquarters is often tipped with silver.* This litter that graced the Windsor community has one little black fox among the other more common red foxes. While black foxes are fairly rare in Europe, they are much more common in the United States. In fact, in North America, 1 in 5 foxes are black.* Jennifer Umland, a former Windsor Now reporter, remembers this area being the home for foxes back in 2009. “We were always looking for images to capture of the “Around Town” section in the Windsor Now newspaper. How can the faces and energy of the kits not capture the attention of a reporter and the hearts of Windsor?” Every spring, the town residents look forward to seeing the little kits running around this open space. But this year has been a little Photo from 2009 by Jennifer Umland different because the whole town was staying home.
Windsor resident Krystal Lind and her kids taken by Kirsten Wiest
Cars lined up along Eastman Park Drive and invaded the church parking lot in order to get the best view. Families working from home were delighted to see this wildlife, to get outside, and to give the kids something new 2020 Fox family-Photo by Krystal Lind to learn about. Windsor resident Tiffany Frank says, “Taking my kids to see the baby foxes was really special for my family. I loaded five kids (mine and my sister’s kids) onto their bikes and we walked from my house in Water Valley so they could experience it. The kids could not stop talking about how cute they were. It was such a great way to keep the kids busy for a while and was the highlight of our week.” The kits were out running around in the coolness of the mornings and evenings, and since kids were not in school and activies, they actually got to participate in this experience. Even those who were still going to work got distracted by the babies running around in the morning. One of those was Kirsten Wiest who says, “On my way to work I stopped to watch the little ones play. I was late to work more than once because I could not tear myself away. Watching them play reminded me of the wildlife all around us that we miss in the busyness of our normal lives. They put a big smile on my heart.”
2020 Fox family-Photo by Krystal Lind
This is a really special annual event that most people miss. It is a clear marker that spring is here and a reminder to stop and enjoy all the great things that Nor thern Colorado of f ers its residents.
*Information retrieved from safariltd.com
2020 Fox family-Photo by Krystal Lind CROSSROADS MAGA ZINE - 30
Splish. Splash. Run. Tag. Grow. And Harvest. Those are the fun, descriptive words that the RainDance Master-Planned Community in Windsor are using to tout their new state-of-the-art aquatic park. The 1.5-acre RainDance River Resort is the centerpiece of the 13-acre RainDance Park and was tentatively scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend to the RainDance community. With the COVID-19 restrictions, the pool actually opened on June 5 at limited capacity. “The RainDance River Resort is an incredible amenity for not only the RainDance community but the entire Northern Colorado area,” said RainDance Developer Martin Lind. The River Resort will feature a lazy river, an area for lap swimming, and a large patio for sunbathers. There will also be a pivot sprinkler used to irrigate crops that will lightly sprinkle water down on the kiddos running underneath it. “The uniqueness and creativity of the RainDance River Resort will astonish folks,” said Lind. “We’re so excited to share this with the RainDance community purchasers and expect that it will be a family magnet to all of Northern Colorado.”
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Suite C Salon and Frechies Modern Nail Care presents:
Haircuts for Heros
Brooke Hansen, owner of Suite C Salon in Windsor and Frenchies Modern Nail Care in Fort Collins, understands that showing extra personal care has power. Alongside her employees and family, Hansen coordinated two activities to honor the health care workers who were working so hard during this unparalleled time. Haircuts for Heroes was a way for Hansen, barber Keiten Hollen, and stylists Kassie Carrion and Mcklae Beaman to do something special for the hospital providers and staff who have been caring for patients with COVID-19 since March. Hansen and her staff were thrilled to offer free haircuts to employees at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins and UCHealth Medical Center in Loveland on four days in early May. Haircuts for Heroes gave hospital staff a little extra love and support and a convenient way for them to receive self-care, according to UCHealth executive assistant Marcey Smith, who organized the effort. She estimated that approximately 175 hospital employees received the free haircuts. “It’s a service we can offer that costs us nothing but our time, and it brings such instant joy to people,” Hansen said. “And instant gratification is the best part of our job. “Everybody loves getting personal services done and so we thought it would be a great way for them to feel normal for 15 minutes and get their minds off of everything going on around them,” she said. Hours of planning went into the effort of on-site haircut services to ensure everyone’s safety. Equipment was disinfected between each appointment, disposable trash bags were used in place of capes, the stations were set up with physical distancing guidelines in mind, and employees signed up for the quick, 15-minute dry hair cut services in advance to ensure no groups of people were waiting.
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Amanda Fisher is an intensive care unit nurse at Poudre Valley Hospital. Her hair has been tucked into surgical caps and her face has been behind a mask and face shield for many days over the past two months as she and her coworkers have been caring for some of the most critically ill patients. She said the 15-minute trim she received during one of her breaks made her feel appreciated and gave her one less thing to worry about on her next day off. “It’s hard, and it’s stressful,” Fischer said, describing what it has been like to care for patients during the pandemic. “But that’s what we are here for. That’s why I became a nurse.” Prior to Haircuts for Heroes, Hansen and her family spent one of their physical distancing days putting together Sugar Scrub packages from her Frenchies nail salon. Each package included a sugar scrub and lotion. The packages were handed out to some of the staff at Poudre Valley Hospital. “We thought the health care worker’s hands must be dry and cracking from all of the handwashing so we thought a little packet with some hand care would help their hands feel better,” Hansen said.
Suite C Salon is open and located at 400 Main St., Windsor, 80550 and you can call to make an appointment at (970) 686-0400. Frenchies is open and located at 2720 Council Tree Ave Suite # 180 Fort Collins, 80525 and you can call to make an appointment at (970) 286-2175.
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Locally owned NoCo Photo donates porch photography to help keep Windsor residents smiling during quarentine
Photos by Krystal Lind
Noco Photo is open and booking www.krysreeves.com
970-217-1946
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Congratulations to the graduate class of 2020. Your community is behind you are all rooting for your success!
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Thank you for all the residents who participated smiling and laughing together!
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Meet Reza Zadeh....
The man behind the Chapel in the Valley Church Service What was the inspiration for creating a church service on a driving range? Martin Lind has asked me to do this for a few years. I love doing outdoor services that reach people who don’t always feel comfortable for attending a church. I continued to put it off year after year when Martin would bring it up. The week before Mother’s Day, churches had been closed for over a month and Martin and my friend Phil Hicks asked if I’d be willing to meet at Martin’s office. I knew something was up. We met and walked over to the Pelican Lakes driving range. I initially said “no,” because I didn’t want to overtly disobey the guidelines laid out by the state regarding large group gatherings. However, when I thought about it, prayed about it, and realized that the carts would be far enough apart I decided to go for it. So in a nutshell… the inspiration was Martin Lind.
Photo taken by Krystal N. Lind
How long do you think you might continue these outdoor services? I had initially agreed to them through Father’s Day weekend. We are now committed to doing them through the month of July. Have you named this service? The Chapel in the Valley.
Cousins enjoying the service. CRO SSROA DS MAGA Z I N E - 39
Tell us a little about you, what is your background and connection with the Windsor Community? I actually did not grow up as a Christian. I was born in Iran and was brought up Muslim. I started following Jesus after meeting some missionaries with an organization called Athletes in Action while playing football at Colorado State University. While in college I met with the AIA director weekly and he taught me what it meant to read the Bible and follow the teachings of Jesus. My life started changing and I was learning more and more what it meant to love people and share the message of the Bible. After coaching at CSU as a Graduate Assistant for two seasons, I became a Pastor at Timberline Church in Fort Collins focusing on college students and young adults. I was a Young Adult Pastor for nine years and then in 2011 my wife Allyson and I planted Timberline Windsor in the southern portion of Water Valley. We moved to Windsor and became engrained in the community. We love Windsor. In 2014 we sensed that our time pastoring at Timberline Windsor was winding down and we had a feeling God was calling us to something different. We resigned as Pastors at Timberlne Windsor and in February of 2015 came on staff with Athletes in Action, which is an international sports organization that reaches athletes and coaches with the Gospel of Jesus. Allyson and I live in Fort Collins with our children Olivia (11), Owen (10) and Macy (7). We spend a lot of time with athletes and helping them understand that being an athlete is what they do, not who they are. We lead Bible Studies for athletes and coaches at CSU, and I also lead the football coach’s Bible Study at the University of Colorado. Allyson and I are also the team Chaplains for the Denver Broncos. We have been the chaplains with the Broncos for nearly four years. What do you love about living in Northern Colorado? We have grown to love the people of Northern Colorado and engage the natural beauty all around us. We have contemplated moving down to Denver, especially because of our role with the Broncos, but the idea of our kids not living in Northern Colorado keeps us from doing that. We bike the trails, fish the lakes, hike the foothills and spend as much time outdoors as possible. In the spring and summer, it’s my goal to get my kids doing something outside at least six times a week.
Photo by Jason Hutt. CROSSROADS MAGA ZINE - 40
What message do you want to send out to the community?
Photo taken by Krystal N. Lind
There are a plethora of reasons people do not attend church or understand the Bible or Jesus. And all of these reasons are valid. Most people have been hurt by someone who claimed to be a Christian, hurt by a church or church policy or feel rejected by Christian culture because of something they have in their past. However, the one thing I have never heard as an excuse for someone not wanting to engage their faith is Jesus. No one has ever said, “I just can’t get on board with what Jesus said.” I know there are some people who have an issue on whether or not Jesus actually walked this earth, but I think there is way too much evidence, outside of the Bible, to affirm that perspective.
My hope is people understand that following Jesus, believing in Him and walking with him is not about adhering to a set of rules and standards, but it’s an opportunity to experience a new life only found in Him and an opportunity for a fresh start. One of my favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come” (New International Version). My desire is that people will learn what Jesus really said and to align their lives and actions to His words, commands and teaching. I have experienced new life in Him and want to remove any barrier people have built up over the years that has separated themselves from learning who they are in Him. In a nutshell, God sent his son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to redeem and save the world. Who are the musicians who run the music for the church? Tom Ewing leads up our music. I affectionately refer to him as The Godfather of Worship in Northern Colorado. He’s one of the best in the nation and his heart is so pure. Steve Collom is the one who rotates with Tom, is a new Water Valley resident and is originally from Australia. When I (an Iranian) preach and Steve (an Australian) does music, I am convinced we are the most diverse “church” in all of Northern Colorado. Were there any logistical challenges getting this up and running? Not really… the Pelican Lakes events staff are some of the best around. I officiate a lot of weddings and have done a number of events at Pelican Lakes and they are absolutely top notch. So thankful for Lorna and Shannon!
Photo by Jason Hutt. CRO SSROA DS MAGA Z I N E - 41
RIBBON CUTTING FOR TED’S SWEETWATER GRILL AND TROUT POND Ted’s Sweetwater Grill and Trout First golden trout caught. Pond Owner Martin Lind.
Windsor’s newest restaurant opened to tremendous fanfare on May 26 when Ted’s Sweetwater Grill and Trout Pond introduced itself to the community. Ted’s is strategically located at 2191 Covered Bridge Pkwy., at the front door of the RainDance master-planned community. Ted’s is housed in the building once occupied by the Colorado Cherry Company and is operated by the Pelican Lakes Golf Club restaurant staff. Ted Lind, 89 years old, cutting the ribbon to open Ted’s Sweetwater Grill and Trout Pond.
The restaurant is named after Ted Lind, a Windsor native who spent most of his life raising wheat, corn, pinto beans and sugar beets on the same ground where RainDance is located. F or a lifetime, Ted worked the healthy and vibrant soils in the district where the RainDance community now resides. Mimicking the historic usage of the land, Ted’s Sweetwater Grill & Trout Pond offers not only unlimited rainbow trout fishing, for both novice and experienced anglers, but serves Colorado-raised meats, produce and spices in its restaurant.
The fishing dock is officially open for business.
The trout pond is stocked and ready for fishing.
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Ted’s Sweetwater Grill & Trout Pond continues to share the bounty Ted and his family initiated. Open seven days a week, Ted’s Sweetwater Grill & Trout Pond welcomes both appetites and anglers.
FUN FOR ALL AGES
Lind’s son Austin Lind, owner of Spark Products LLC, had an “Ah Ha” moment while doing some work for the RainDance River Resort earlier this spring. Reminiscing about his childhood memories of fishing with his brother Tyler, father Martin and Grandpa Ted, he thought the pond in front of the RainDance HomeStead, where Ted’s is currently located, would be a perfect place for other families to create those same memories together. In a quick three weeks, the Lind’s idea quickly came to fruition as the team rallied to create fishing docks and a new menu for the newly crowned Ted’s Sweetwater Grill. Scheels of Johnstown is a sponsor of Ted’s Trout Pond and has donated all the fishing equipment. Visitors must use the Scheels-donated rods and bait to catch their trout. The cost to fish is $10 for non-RainDance residents and $1 for every inch of trout you catch. Ted’s will clean the fish for an extra $3, or people can take the catch and clean it at home. Oakleigh, age 4, gets her first fish.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT TEDSSWEETWATERGRILL.COM OR CALL 970-460-1720.
Windsor Fire Cheif Kris Kazian gets his fish.
Residents getting outside and enjoying the day. Quinn Reeves and Myah Donahoo waiting for their turn to fish.
Haleigh, Austin, Crimsyn, Ted, Martin, and Viki Lind.
MAKE MEMORIES WITH YOUR FAMILY CRO SSROA DS MAGA Z I N E - 43
Certified Financial Planner and Enrolled Agent Jason Speciner.
Certified Financial Planner Dan Andrews.
CFP® candidate Regina Neenan.
MEET THE “FINANCIAL PLANNING FORT COLLINS” TEAM When Jason Speciner began his career as a financial planner, he had a very specific idea of what “financial planning” meant to him. “Over 15 years ago, financial planning was a throw-in to go along with the purchase of an insurance policy or mutual fund. It was an add-on that provided little actual value for most people; something that sounded nice but primarily served as a sales tool,” Speciner said. “I’ve spent my career refining the financial planning process and delivering it in an accessible and more valuable way.” Today, he’s built a fee-only full-time fiduciary firm, Financial Planning Fort Collins. The firm specializes in helping employees of tax-exempt and public service organizations — like UCHealth and CSU — along with relocators and career-changers plan their financial futures. In addition to Speciner, a Certified Financial Planner and Enrolled Agent, the team now includes fellow Certified Financial Planner Dan Andrews, as well as CFP® candidate Regina Neenan. Known for their full-service financial planning package aptly named Comprehensive Services, Speciner and his team saw an opportunity to make financial planning more affordable and accessible to those in Northern Colorado and beyond. The goal was to create a fee-for-service financial planning program that would be easier to start and simpler to use. This led to the development and recent announcement of two new modern service offerings, Basic and Essential Services. The resources offered through each — including absolutely free resources on the firm’s website — allow clients and visitors to take control of their financial lives from the comfort of their homes. Both Basic and Essential Services include valuable enhancements, like access to the Betterment robo-advisor platform at a significant discount from retail pricing and access to discounted income tax preparation. Along the way, a CFP® pro is always available to guide and assist clients with implementation.
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The Basic Services package is geared toward the do-it-yourself crowd while Essential Services offers a robust guided program with an annual meeting and ongoing support. With new personal finance modules released every month for Essential Services clients, there’s always fresh and engaging content available. “Our personal finance modules are designed to inspire our clients so they can improve their money lives,” Andrews said. “The modules excite me because we can share our expertise on this accessible platform with people who enjoy an educational approach. We make it more valuable by simplifying the overwhelming nature of personal finance into easy-to-understand content and easy-to-implement action items.” Meanwhile, the firm continues to accept Comprehensive Services package clients for those who prefer a white-glove experience, whether delivered virtually or in person.
Simple, Fair, and Transparent Financial Planning Fort Collins remains focused on a modern approach. As a fee-only firm that only accepts payment from clients, the firm’s refusal to accept commissions from third parties allows clients to know that the advice they receive is aimed at their bottom line, not the firm’s. With all service packages available for a plainly stated flat-dollar fee, keeping tabs on the value received for the price paid has never been simpler. This is the refreshing and modern difference that a simple, fair, and transparent service and pricing model offers. As the world continues to evolve around us, the Financial Planning Fort Collins team looks forward to innovating and providing these modern services to support clients well into the future. The firm is excited for the journey ahead and hopes you’ll join them. You can lear n more ab out Financial Planning For t C ol lins and find the financial planning path that’s right for you at YourFullTimeFiduciary.com.
Financial Planning Fort Collins Highlights -Founded in 2016 by Jason Speciner, CFP®, EA -Virtual and in-person financial planning, investment management, and tax preparation -Your Full-Time Fiduciary™ -Learn more at YourFullTimeFiduciary.com CRO SSROA DS MAGA Z I N E - 45
Rainbow over the RainDance community of Windsor. Photo by Krystal N. Lind CROSSROADS MAGA ZINE - 46
Sunset over the Pelican Lakes Golf Club Pool. Photo by Krystal N. Lind CRO SSROA DS MAGA Z I N E - 47
Summer sunset over the Pelican Lakes Golf Club-Photo by Kr ystal Lind CROSSROADS MAGA ZINE - 48