The Johnstown | Milliken Influence - August Issue

FAMILY spotlight

Family member names: Brad, Lindsey, Sophie (10) and Charlie (7)

Photography by Spoken For Photography

Street: Wadas Ct. Johnstown

Pets: Black Lab, Willie (4)

Profession(s): Brad is a Salesman for Tharp Cabinets in Loveland and Lindsey is just starting this year as a Preschool Para at Elwell Elementary.

FAVORITES Activities/Hobbies: Playing games together, riding bikes, going to concerts, camping.

Park/Play area/Hang out: We have a cabin up off of Peak to Peak highway, Parish Park, backyard.

Restaurants: Arte Pizzaria, Cassidy’s, Cheba Hut, Culver’s.

Vacation destination: Don’t have one.

TV show/Movie: Shameless, Yellowstone, The Big Lebowski.

Music: Rock, Country, Blues

Family dinner: Tater tot casserole

Do you have any family traditions? At Christmas we love to get hot cocoa and drive around looking at Christmas decorations all over town.

What college/university did you attend? Brad attended Illinois State University.

Where are you originally from? Brad is from Rantoul, Illinois and Lindsey grew up in Longmont.

How long have you lived in this neighborhood? We bought our current house in May of 2018 but my husband and I met in that house back in 2007 when he lived there with his brother.

What do you like to do to relax? Sit around a fire, going to our family cabin.

How are you involved in the community? Lindsey is the Letford/Elwell Elementary School PTO President.

If you have kids, what activities are they involved with? Sophie is active in synchronized swimming at the YMCA and Charlie does gymnastics at Gymstarz also we love the library activities offered.

What is your favorite part about living in your neighborhood? We live on a great cul de sac with some of the best neighbors. We love being able to have all the kids on the block playing together and the parents get to hangout.

SPONSOR Spotlight

Kate LeCerf Interiors, Ltd.

Creating Fresh, Comfortable and Inspired Homes

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME AN INTERIOR DESIGNER/DECORATOR? I’ve always had a passion for everything art. I studied Art Education in college and became an elementary Art Teacher upon graduating with a BAE. I enjoyed teaching and will always carry that “teacher” side of me in everything I do. After taking several years off from teaching to be a stay-athome mom, I decided it was time to pursue my real passion, interiors.

I’ve lived in many homes over the years and have always enjoyed remodeling, updating, and decorating my own spaces. I finally decided it was time to help others do the same. I earned my certification in interior decorating from QC Design School. I create a collected home by mixing old and new and incorporating personal memories, stories and collected items that shape my client’s story. I believe your home should reflect the person you are in a way different from anyone else’s.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION? Literally everywhere! I see everything in color no matter where I am. I am inspired by nature and consider it the ultimate inspiration, but I also enjoy to travel and visit new places. I revel in visiting hotels, restaurants, and historic places to take in the interior design wherever I go. There isn’t a place I go where I don’t notice interiors and how people interact in them. I also love antiques and enjoy the hunt of finding unique treasures to incorporate into my look. My home is my sketch book and when I get inspired, I love to try new things in my own home.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF PROJECT? I call my style Fresh Traditional, however I can appreciate and design in many interior styles. By using traditional pieces and elements, I can create a timeless yet fresh, updated look. No project is too small. I offer styling, lighting plans, furniture and finish selections and more. I love meeting new people, seeing their homes and helping with challenges they face. Old homes are my favorite because there’s so much character already there to work with. I also love solving problems for clients. The joy and excitement I see when I help a client create a home they love and take pride in is priceless.

WHERE IS YOUR BUSINESS? I live in Johnstown. I currently run my business out of my home office. In addition to in person design services, I do eDesign which is completely remote. I serve the entire Northern Colorado area, but I especially love helping members in our community.

I also work with local contractors to execute my vision for client’s homes. I love building relationships with other small business owners and providing my clients the best possible workmanship.

Kate is the sole owner of Kate LeCerf Interiors. She enjoys being able to serve her clients in the personalized level that she does. Kate also writes a blog in which she shares a plethora of advice on decorating and ways to make your house a home. She is active on Instagram and Facebook, so give her a follow to get home advice and inspiration.

Kat LeCerf

YOUNG Writer

Summer Friends

Written by Emma - age 11

Moving can be hard but along the way you will meet really good friends that will stay by your side no matter what. When I moved to Milliken from Commerce City I was so afraid of not making any friends and then I met my new best friend, Gabrie. She and I hit it off and we spent

almost everyday together and I will see her all the time when I start school. She is always there for me and that is a good friend. If you feel shy to introduce yourself to other people, face your fears and maybe you can also meet your new best friend.

ATHLETE OF THEMonth

Photography by Spoken For Photography

Name: Kash Conde Age: 7 School: Milliken Elementary School Sport/Activity: Wrestling

How long have you participated in this sport/ activity? 4 years.

What is your favorite teacher/mentor’s name? Coach Ben.

Who do you idolize in this sport/activity? Clayton Robinson.

Where do you normally practice? Bear Cave.

Are you on a team? Yes, Bear Cave.

Have you met anyone famous in this sport/ activity? Yes, Ben Vombaur, Kyle Dake, David Taylor.

Have you traveled anywhere related to this sport/ activity? Yes, Air Force Academy and North Platte Nebraska.

What events have you participated in? 6U and 8U Folkstyle for Peak to Peak, Peak to Peak State Rocky Mountain Nationals

Elementary Regionals, Rocky Mountain Nationals Elementary State, Rocky Mountain Nationals WarFare.

What awards or honors have you won?

• 4 times Wrestler of week from Bear Cave.

• 4th place at Peak to Peak State.

• 1st Place at RMN Elementary Regionals.

• 4th place at RMN Elementary State.

• 2nd place at RMN Warfare.

What have you learned from participating in this sport/activity? I learned new moves, you have to work hard, and listen to your coaches.

What do you like the most about the sport/activity? I like winning, getting points, going to practice with my friends Landon and Nolan and making new friends.

What is your favorite moment? Getting to be a part of the Parade of Champions at RMN Elementary State.

What do you plan on doing after graduating? I’d like to be a bullfighter.

One tip for someone looking to get into this sport/ activity: They should know to always wrestle hard.

TOO FLIP TO FLOP - Project 718

The story of 718 is a unique one. This home is actually the first home that Mike and I bought together back in 2018. Over the 4 years that we lived there we noticed things that we loved, disliked and downright hated about the house. As time went on, we found so many things that the prior homeowner had done that completely shocked us. Honestly we are not sure how it passed the inspection in 2018 at all. As our family grew we needed something larger and were able to accrue another property to live in while we - you guessed it! - get the chance to flip our old house.

Having lived in the home for so long, we have a deeper understanding of the changes that need to be made - what a unique perspective! This home needs it all: flooring, plumbing, electrical and we cannot forget plumbing’s best friend - HVAC! Yes, we did actually live there for 4 years without AC and little to no insulation in the attic...summer days were brutal in that house!

We are so excited to have started this project and will keep ya’ll updated along the way!

The first phase of any flip project is to get all the measurements, design ideas, elements, and of course to get rid of all the bad, old and ugly. During this demo phase we uncovered a gem that we totally had not expected. You know how when you watch a home show on HGTV, and they rip up the old floor and low and behold there is beautiful hardwood flooring? Well, we found amazing, original 70’s hardwood flooring spanning the entire upstairs! This find changed the design, and actually while saving us money on flooring, increased the property value! Talk about a win win!

Now, as far as the design goes, there is not a true master bedroom in 718 and the main floor is small and dysfunctional. Originally there were two bedrooms on the main, and three in the basement. We were able to tear down the wall separating the living space from the kitchen (I have wanted to do this for years) and while this really opened up the space and allows us to totally revamp the kitchen, it did not solve our issue of the home not having a true master. In order to make the master work upstairs

we would have to eat the only other bedroom on the main floor and steal the only upstairs bathroom - which would mean adding another bathroom on the main level. Instead of doing this, we decided to literally flip the house. You will see what I mean soon enough!

Keep an eye on The Influence Magazine for more progress, and you can also check out our YouTube channel Palavra Home Services for behind

the scenes footage of our projects and our first episode featuring 718! For day to day progress check out our FB and Instagram @palavrahomeservices.

YOUR HOME SERVICES SOLUTION

LET’S TALK ABOUT Milliken

Compiled by Milliken Historical Society

Like any story, the juicier the better! So goes the “story” of the town’s purpose and especially the naming of the streets in this cozy, little community. You’ve heard it before. The question is, Fact or Fiction? Maybe it would be wise to learn a little more about the history of this town.

On July 10, 1909 a town plat was filed for this small developing community born out of the emergence of the Denver, Laramie and Northwestern Railway Company. The town of Milliken became an official name on the State of Colorado map January 6, 1910.

In actuality the town had its original source from the settlement of Hillsboro which was established from land donations located in the southwest corner of the current Highway 60/ Quentine Avenue intersection. The people of Hillsboro had named their streets, had a general store/post office, developed businesses and organized a school, but once the railroad came to town, growth took another turn, and the little community of Hillsboro, formed around 1905, was annexed into the new settlement of Milliken.

Judge John David Milliken received the honor of having his last name attached to the naming of the town, but he made it clear that “someone did that behind his back!” He was President of the Northwestern Land and Iron Company and General Counsel and Director of the railway company overseeing the three companies involved in the railroad line. This company boosted town lots and farm land sales in connection with the building of a new railroad.

Milliken was known at one time as the “hub” of northern Colorado. Agriculture and the railroads worked hand in hand

in growing and exporting farm produce and livestock. In the late 1920’s and 1930’s this area was known for its crops of sugar beets, beans, cattle feed, potatoes, corn and wheat. The center of sugar beet production and center of the lamb market of the United States, it’s future would make it a strong distribution point of this area.

As the town progressed and the layout of the road grid began, it was determined that the north and south roads would be considered avenues

and were to be named after girl’s names and placed in alphabetical order starting on the east end of town. The east and west roads would be considered streets and were given the names of trees with the exception of the main street going through town which was named Broad Street.

Beginning in 1910 the town had two churches, a school, a bank, a cafe, a general store and 150 people to keep them going. The town continued to progress but at a slower

rate than expected, and in 1917 the Denver, Laramie and Northwestern rail lines were abandoned. The lines were never laid beyond Greeley, Colorado. The town of Milliken also had its share of fires from 1911- 1924 destroying homes and businesses.

The community struggled, but the spirit of the people who comprised the community remained high. Businesses continued to develop, the agricultural area remained rich in its resources, clubs and organizations were started, and the Great Western and the La Salle –Ft. Collins branch of the Union Pacific developed in the area. In 1921, 11 years after the establishment of the town of Milliken, the population was around 200; in 1941-531, in 1960-630. With the expansion and explosive growth of the northern Colorado region in the last 25 years or so, the population as of 2020 according to Google is 7862!

So let’s get back to the question at the beginning of this piece. Is the story true? The story goes that the avenue names are the names of those women of the “Red Light District” and the reputation the town of Milliken had supposedly developed. Fact or fiction? Remember, people like a juicy story, but the story is fiction!! Railroads were historically well known for the naming of towns every ten miles along their lines. They would use the names of people associated with the railroad or major customers on the shipping lines. The railroad officials were influential in the communities that sprang up because of their presence, so in this case the names of the avenues running north and south in Milliken were the names of the wives of the railroad officials. And the name of main street? Who knows? Maybe just a really wide street at the time!!! (As

a note, the street was 80’ in width and graded to 56’ from curb to curb.)

Milliken Historical Society was established in 2010. The organization is currently

housed in the renovated home of Anna Flood now called the Museum at the Heritage House and is located at 102 N. Grave Avenue just north of the Milliken Town Hall.

Board president-Lois Onorato, Vice-President- Linda Measner, Secretary-Pat Bernhardt, Treasurer-Sharon Morgan, Board members-Joyce Chaput, Becky Selby, Patty York and Susan Forehand.

LADIES’ Night Out at

Group Fun at Meraki Fitness and Pole

Pole fitness is an extension of pole dancing that uses the pole to its maximum potential as a versatile piece of fitness equipment. Pole fitness works the whole body, improving muscle tone, flexibility, coordination and posture - as well as upper body and core strength.

Most people don’t realize the variety of exercises you can do with a pole, which are similar to exercises you might do at the gym but using your own body weight for resistance. From chin ups to crunches, to working your arms and abs - or climbing to swan holds for your legs - you can work it all on a pole, and the

We tried our hand at pole fitness with Timarie Bashor, owner of Meraki Fitness and Pole in Milliken who hosted a small group of us for a 70-minute beginner session. Timarie is a seasoned professional who offers a non-conventional and personal approach to fitness, movement and body work. She uses techniques derived from the founder of Applied Kinesiology, George Goodheart, to locate weakness in the body and improve neuromuscular communication to regain strength and balance. She offers

personal training and creates a customized plan that matches your starting point and where you envision yourself in the future. Additionally, she offers team building workshops for small businesses.

At the start of the class, Timarie explains that one of the poles spins and one is static (i.e. - stationary) depending on the desired workout and capability of the participant. As Timarie demonstrates with elegance and then guides each person through the different poses and flows that make up the session, she makes everyone feel comfortable to go outside their comfort zone. Some of the poses from the class included fireman, inside closed and open hook(s), reverse hook, pinwheel, around the world priouette and fan kick. As the class progressed the words Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful above the mirrors on the walls really began to attach to each individual as they built strength and gained confidence...all part of Timarie’s goal!

The takeaways from our group were that after 70-minutes, the muscle and emotional therapy these sessions provide is evident and everyone was ready to come back alone and with more friends! Timarie sets herself apart by being able to offer private, individualized sessions with her clients in her home studio. The work she does is for the body, mind and soul - at any level - and also, not just for women.

Move better and live better with guidance from Meraki Fitness and Pole!

Meraki Fitness and Pole Milliken, CO 970-443-0851 https://www. merakifitnessandpole.com/

HOMETOWN HEALTHCARE Caring for our community

August Back to School Month

Content provided by : Family Physicians of Greeley

As the summer winds down and we get ready to go back to school, it is important to remember to schedule your child’s back-to-school wellness visit. And if your child is going to participate in school sports, they will need a sports physical. All our providers are available to deliver these important services for you, your infants, children, and adolescents! In fact, Drs J Matthew and Cara Brown are board certified in adolescent medicine as well as family medicine and look forward to providing comprehensive care for your teens.

Just as it is important for adults to have wellness checks, children’s wellness checks should be done yearly, even during a pandemic! Vaccines are one of the best ways to keep your child healthy and safe. Missing wellness visits for your child could put them at risk.

Did you know that vaccination rates around the country have fallen sharply due to the COVID-19 pandemic? This is leaving many children unvaccinated and unprotected against 16 infectious diseases.

On May 8, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published new data that documents what doctors around the nation have been reporting for weeks: many, many children have missed receiving important immunizations to protect them against diseases like measles, meningitis, and whooping cough. As a pediatric health care provider this is incredibly worrisome. We do not want to return to a time when parents had to worry that their infant could die of meningitis or measles – especially when we have vaccines to prevent these potentially devastating diseases.

Immunizing infants, children, and adolescents is important and should not be delayed. The other concern is that children who have missed vaccines have also missed other critical health care that occurs during pediatric visits, including physical exams, developmental and mental health screenings, and other important care.

Our office is open and ready to safely provide well-care, sickcare, mental health screenings, immunizations, physicals, and more. Please call 970-587-7881 today to get your child’s wellness or sports physical appointment scheduled!

GET TO KNOW YOUR PROVIDER

ANGELA EUSSEN, PA-C Board Certified Physician Assistant

Work life: She is detail-oriented and provides thorough care to all her patients. She tries to balance her practice with natural and holistic routes of treatment alongside evidence-based medicine. She routinely diagnoses acute and chronic illnesses, orders and interprets lab work, initiates treatment plans, provides physicals and immunizations as needed, and manages patient’s care as their Primary Care Provider (PCP). Family Life: She is happily married with 2 beautiful daughters. Together, they enjoy spending time in the great outdoors of Colorado, and love watching a Dodgers baseball game any chance they get! What was your first paying job? Babysitter.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Either a nurse, doctor or a teacher. Where did you work before FPG? I worked in other family practices in Denver and Northern Colorado. What is the most exciting/ motivational part of your job? Knowing that I am caring for patients and helping them through their health journey. Who inspires you? My husband, Chris. Do you enjoy traveling, and if so, what is the best place you’ve traveled? I love traveling! The best trip was to Belize with my husband. Do you have any hobbies: I enjoy paddleboarding and flyfishing. Is there anything you are really bad at? Yes, I cannot dance. What is your least favorite chore around the house? Pulling weeds and yardwork…..yuck! What is your favorite season and favorite holiday? I love the fall, but I am obsessed with Christmas!

INSURE CAREFULLY, Dream Fearlessly....

LIFE INSURANCE 101

By Local Resident Insurance Expert CRISTINA WALSTON, AGENT AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE

You insure your car, home and your health to protect yourself from the unexpected. Have you considered how you can help financially protect those you love? Life insurance provides financial protection in the event you were to pass away. You pay premiums to your insurance company, and in return, they will pay your beneficiaries a death benefit — which is an agreed upon sum of money — when you pass away.

WHY DO I NEED LIFE INSURANCE? Do you have people who depend on you financially? Would they have enough money to cover the substantial costs of a funeral? What about a mortgage, debt and other expenses you’d leave behind? Having life insurance can provide peace of mind that your loved ones will have some financial protection to cover these expenses or replace lost income if you were to die. But, there can be more to life insurance than just a financial safety net if you were to pass away. With DreamSecure Whole Life and DreamSecure Flexible Life, there’s the ability to build cash value, leave behind a legacy or even contribute to your retirement. Find out more about how life insurance protects your family.

TEMPORARY LIFE INSURANCE Temporary life insurance — better known as term life insurance — offers coverage for a specific period of time, for example in 10, 15, 20, or 30 year terms. If you pass away while the policy is in effect, your beneficiary will receive a death benefit. However, if your term life insurance policy expires before you pass away, your beneficiaries won’t receive a payout. Depending on your policy, you may be able to extend your term after the initial policy term ends or convert it to a long-term policy. Ask us if American Family Life Insurance Company’s DreamSecure Term Life Insurance and DreamSecure Simplified Term Life Insurance coverage is for you.

PERMANENT LIFE INSURANCE A permanent life insurance policy, such as whole life insurance, offers coverage for — you guessed it — your whole life (subject to policy terms). Typically, a premium for whole life insurance will cost more than term life, but that’s because not only does it provide lifelong protection, but the policy also has the ability to accumulate cash value. Cash value is a component of whole life insurance that you can borrow against* while you’re still living. You can use it for things like helping with a down payment on a house, college tuition or investing in a business. Keep in mind, if you don’t pay back the loan plus interest your death benefit will be reduced by any outstanding loan and interest amounts. Give us a call if you’d like to learn more about the cash value of life insurance.

PRECIOUS Pets

PRIMO & BOWIE

Family member names: Sam & Valencia Quinn

Type of Animal/Breed: Boston Terriers Male or female: P= Male, B= Female Pet’s age: 5 ½ months

WHERE/WHY DID YOU GET YOUR PET? Locally, we love the breed and knew our 16 year old Boston was nearing the end of her life.

IS THERE A STORY BEHIND ITS NAME? Sam is in the construction industry. Many of the tradesmen refer to him as “Primo” which in Spanish means cousin. Bowie was very vocal at 3 weeks old and can belt out some vocals like David Bowie.

ANYTHING SPECIAL OR UNUSUAL ABOUT THEM (TALENTS/QUIRKS)? Bowie is fast and can leap 3x her height charging after a ball. Primo has the ability to melt your heart with his sad eyes.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR PET? Their unconditional love and the constant entertainment they provide us.

ANY FUNNY STORIES? They are true siblings and can lead to very funny behaviors to get fed before the other.

HOW SPOILED IS YOUR PET? Extremly

WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT YOUR PET AND/OR HOW YOUR PET HAS ENRICHED YOUR HOME/FAMILY? Just look at their faces! How could they not enrich our family.

LOCAL Events

SAVE THE DATE : MILLIKEN BEEF N BEAN DAYS! SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2022 AT 10 AM – 9 PM Thompson Rivers Parks & Recreation District Milliken Athletic Complex

HISTORY OF BEEF N' BEAN DAY Milliken residents have celebrated the Town's agricultural history since 1924, when the first agricultural festival was planned. Apparently the event began when a local Presbyterian minister decided to hold a Town Picnic, and two years later in 1926, the Town held the first official festival, calling it Bean Day. In 1983, when a local feed lot producer donated beef, which was cooked underground at Lola Park, the event then became known as Beef 'N Bean Day. The event is still running strong on the Second Saturday of August and includes everything from a Fireman's Pancake Breakfast, to Parades, Vendors, Live Music, Fireworks and MORE! Gather your family and join the fun!

BBQ Competition The Milliken Events Committee is excited to host our Backyard BBQ competition. 20 of our local best will compete for prizes, awards and bragging rights. Sign up today!

2022 Grand Marshall: Civica 2022

Honored Citizen: Peggy Wakeman

2022 Honored Business: Mill Haus Coffee 2022

Honored Organization: Glenn A. Jones M.D. Memorial Library