The Westy Connection, Spring 2022

CONNECTION A NEXUS OF NEWS, COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS AND CITY HAPPENINGS

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ANSWERING THE CALL

HOW WESTMINSTER SUPPORTED its NEIGHBORS WHEN DISASTER STRUCK

Spring 2022

Connect with community and nature 4

Volunteering is a work of heart 12

This ain’t our first ‘roadeo’ 14

8 CONTENTS 4 A place to connect with community and nature Westminster’s first nature playground opened last fall at Westminster Station

6 Small business spotlight: Ceremony Center for Healing in the historic Penguin Building

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7 Lights, camera, SPIRIT! Introducing a new video series featuring city employees doing awesome things

8 Answering the call Westminster’s first responders and dedicated employees helped their neighbors when disaster struck

12 Volunteering is a work of heart

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13 Upcoming special events 14 There’s no business like snow business…and this ain’t our first ‘roadeo’!

15 Neighborly advice

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CONNECTION A NEXUS OF NEWS, COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS AND CITY HAPPENINGS

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City Council Members

Nancy McNally Mayor

nmcnally@ cityofwestminster.us

David DeMott Mayor Pro tem

ddemott@ cityofwestminster.us

Bruce Baker

Lindsey Emmons

Obi Ezeadi

Sarah Nurmela

Rich Seymour

bbaker@ cityofwestminster.us

lemmons@ cityofwestminster.us

oezeadi@ cityofwestminster.us

snurmela@ cityofwestminster.us

rseymour@ cityofwestminster.us

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A PLACE TO

CONNECT WITH

COMMUNITY &

NATURE

“I wish I was a lot younger now,” said Ronan Pickering as he gazed upon the largest tree house in Westminster. “I wish I was my brother and sister’s age because I know this is going to be a lot of fun!”

Although the 17-year-old high school student won’t be running across suspension bridges or scaling a mini mountain, he is still excited for Westminster’s newest play space for kids.

It was during his 6th grade year at Colorado STEM Academy in 2017 that the City of Westminster approached Ronan’s class to help bring to life an innovative and creative plan. The goal was to create a playground that provided children of all ages and backgrounds with equitable access to the great outdoors in Historic Westminster.

“We spent a solid week working on our projects,” Ronan remembered. From drawings to dioramas, dozens of Westminster’s youngest residents got to work designing a playground that connected kids to nature. For Ronan, that playground ended up looking very similar to the final product at 3501 Creekside Drive.

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“I remember doing the tree houses with bridges and zip lines... but I don’t see any zip lines just yet,” Ronan joked as he looked around at the five-acre masterpiece. “I think they took their design from all of ours and kind of mashed it together.”

The City and its partners used input from Ronan and other students to create a blueprint for the nature playground. Construction on the $7 million investment started in October 2020 and was made possible in part by generous grants from Adams County Open Space, Great Outdoors Colorado, the Colorado Lottery and Westminster Legacy Foundation.

The Nature Playground at Westminster Station Park opened on Saturday, Nov. 6 to hundreds of residents and their families, all eager to make memories in a place dedicated to equity, accessibility and environmental stewardship. A place where families can climb a tree house, navigate a switchback trail and dig for replica dinosaur fossils all in the community of Historic Westminster.

“I’m astonished,” Ronan remarked as he remembered the site that was once a lonely open space. “It’s gotten a boost of life.”

The high school student said he feels more connected to the Westminster community after his involvement in this project. “It makes me feel like I had an impact on this.”

That sentiment is also shared by teachers and staff at Colorado STEM Academy who coordinated the project-based learning experience into their curriculum.

“This project had a lasting impact on my students as many of them still (as 11th graders), talk about the time we helped design a park,” said Jessica Sullivan, a sixthgrade teacher at Colorado STEM Academy. “I hope the community sees the new park as a place to experience nature and come together. I know the kids and families at Colorado STEM Academy are eager to have such an amazing play area just blocks away from the school.”

Ronan will soon embark on his senior year and plans to pursue a career in automotive tech. No matter where life takes him, he said he will always take pride in the work his class accomplished.

“I’m really proud that I was a part of this, because for my graduating year, instead of a monument, I got a park and a stone [recognizing] the Class of 2023!”

The city hopes the Westminster Station Park Nature Playground becomes a special place in the hearts of Westminster residents; a place where memories are made, family traditions are created, and kids can tap into their imagination to explore, create, and connect with nature for years to come.

"I'M REALLY PROUD THAT I WAS PART OF THIS, BECAUSE FOR MY GRADUATING YEAR, INSTEAD OF A MONUMENT, I GOT A PARK AND A STONE [RECOGNIZING] THE CLASS OF 2023!"

RONAN PICKERING

Ronan Pickering, 17, stands proudly at the entrance to the Westminster Station Park Nature Playground.

A rock formation greets guests and displays special recognition for those involved in the development of the park, including Colorado STEM Academy, Westy Power!/¡Poder! Parent Council, and grant donors: Adams County Open Space, Great Outdoors Colorado, the Colorado Lottery and Westminster Legacy Foundation.

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SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT:

CEREMONY CENTER FOR HEALING

The Penguin Building at 7269 Lowell Blvd. in Historic Westminster, home to Ceremony Center for Healing.

Small local businesses are the foundation of our economy and fabric of our community. They are your neighbors, often with multigenerational ties and interesting histories. Some have roots and stories that go way back—and that is definitely the case for the Ceremony Center for Healing in Historic Westminster, and its owner, Marnie Quinn.

Westy Connection: Why did you choose to locate your business in Historic Westminster?

Marnie Quinn: Actually, Ceremony is located in the Penguin

Learn more about Ceremony at ceremonyhealing.com and stay tuned for more stories about businesses in Historic Westminster.

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Building at 7269 Lowell Blvd.–a building that has been in my family for decades. In 1951, my grandparents Raymond and Mary Lou Nielsen, built the now historic building to house my grandfather’s pharmacy. My grandfather’s intention was to have a community health center, with his pharmacy downstairs and doctor's offices upstairs. He eventually moved his pharmacy to another location, and the Penguin Building went on to house the local post office, a ballet studio – even a Mexican restaurant.

In late 2015, the space became available and it was the right time to continue the tradition of healing in the space my grandfather created.

Lights, camera, WC: What made you start a yoga studio in Westminster, Colorado?

MQ: Back in 2015 I was working in fashion

in New York City and had a very different life. It was very stressful and I found myself exploring things like yoga to help with the stress in my life. I eventually left my fashion career, and at the same time found out I had no place to live as my building in Brooklyn was being sold. I actually went to bed one night and had a dream. I awoke with a very clear vision of Ceremony: a center for healing in my grandfather's old pharmacy. It was like I was stepping in the future and seeing everything complete and full of a community of people, in a place years ago that was constructed for the purpose of healing the community it served. Talk about Kismet.....

WC: What does Ceremony provide for the community?

MQ: We provide daily yoga classes and

Reiki sessions—a Japanese form of energy healing. We offer meditations, workshops, and retreats. We also sell organic skincare products. We ultimately want to provide a place that feels like home and lets you be your authentic self.

SPIRIT!

This month, the City of Westminster is debuting “Westy SPIRIT,” a new video series featuring stories of city employees doing awesome things in service of our community.

As a team, city staff embrace something we call “SPIRIT Values” as the foundation for our work. SPIRIT stands for Service, Pride, Integrity, Responsibility, Innovation, and Teamwork, and they are truly more than words—they’re the guideposts that direct everything we do for Westminster residents. To share those values and how your Westminster city employees embody them, we’re launching a monthly video series that will feature a person or group that performs in a manner that promotes one or more of the SPIRIT values.

The series’ first episode showcases how Westminster employees turned out to support the Marshall Fire recovery effort in many unsung ways.

The second episode— coming soon!— will feature the Westminster Police Department and its innovative child abduction response team.

Watch “Westy SPIRIT” at www.CityofWestminster.us/WestySPIRIT or find us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Then tune in every month for another short video about how the Westminster SPIRIT values are making your hometown a better place to be.

@CityofWestminsterColorado westminster.colorado @westminsterco

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Westminster’s first nature playground opens this fall at Westminster Station.

ANSWERING

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the Call WWW.CITY0FWESTMINSTER.US

A police commander notices the smoke drifting across I-25 on his commute South from Longmont. A fire battalion chief gets a phone call from a colleague in Boulder.

A public works supervisor finds a layer of ash dulling the color of his car and garbage cans.

On what was supposed to be a normal workday, all three public servants found themselves leading teams of Westminster employees determined to help their neighbors when disaster struck.

PEND PHOTO CREDIT: FIRE CAPTAIN SAMUEL

LETON

On the morning of December 30, 2021, grass fires broke out in Boulder County.

By noon, the fire had spread rapidly due to a combination of arid conditions and wind gusts of over 100 mph, engulfing the communities of Superior and Louisville.

“This wasn’t a wildland fire,” said David Varney, Battalion Chief with the Westminster Fire Department. “This was a town fire driven by the combustibles of homes and buildings, one after another with the significant winds. I’ve been on for 25 years and I’ve never seen anything like that.”

In the immediate response, Westminster Fire deployed multiple engines and staff.

As those crews entered their assigned neighborhood, they found many of the homes already burning. The flames were fueled by all sorts of combustible building materials, as well as the material possessions families had left behind.

themselves nearly surrounded and needing to abandon their equipment to escape safely.

“Our supply lines were being compromised to the point where they would have to cut the line and drive off because they were compromising their own safety,” Varney said. “It was constantly changing. It was like a war zone.”

“ It was constantly changing. It was like a war zone.”

David Varney, Westminster Fire Dept.

Battalion Chief Across town, Westminster Police Commander Trevor Materasso reports to a temporary command post set up in the shell of a former Nordstrom department store. Smoke lingers over the parking lot, obscuring 200 or so emergency vehicles—everything from police cars to fire trucks, snowplows and Humvees.

Hurricane force winds pushed the fire to jump from one house to another rapidly and unpredictably. By the time firefighters had gotten into position using hydrants and hoses to douse any remaining structures, they found

When Westminster Fire Department responded to the scene, firefighters encountered a blaze that was changin g direction rapidly and growing by nearly two football fields every few seconds.

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At left: Westminster Public Works staff helped the Town of Superior flush out their fire hydrants so water service to residents could be restored safely.

equipped with air tanks for medical aid, because many of their deployments are responding to injuries and doing first-aid triage until a better medical response can be coordinated.”

Rather than clothing racks and perfume, Materasso was greeted at the door by a single 8.5”x11” piece of paper taped to a table serving as a makeshift check-in station. The building was empty of merchandise, but full of experienced emergency management personnel from neighboring communities awaiting direction.

Within hours, the place was a bustling command center. Walls had been plastered with maps to coordinate road closures and prioritizing ways in and out of the fire zone. People organized into groups based on what training and resources they had available.

Westminster’s resources were put to quick use handling evacuations door-to-door while Materasso established a dedicated rescue unit for residents and emergency crews facing ever-changing dangers.

“I ended up with six police officers assigned to parks,” Materasso said.

“I don’t remember what agency they were with, but each had 4-wheel drive trucks

While it was a relief to find individuals with the right training and gear, it was a challenge convincing them to stay put.

“I’ve got six of you. I know what you don’t want to hear right now is I need you to stay here at the command post, but the best thing you can do is be here and be ready to respond quickly,” Materasso told his new unit at the time.

After the winds subsided and the fire was controlled, the volunteer spirit was sustained by Westminster Public Works and Utilities (PWU) staff who jumped at the chance to help in the aftermath.

Eight PWU staff members traveled to Superior following the fire to help flush the public water system and get utilities restored.

Trevor Materasso, Westminster Police Commander WWW.CITY0FWESTMINSTER.US

Westminster staff volunteering their time and expertise were able to help Superior restore water service to its residents. Firefighters and police officers helped control the blaze and get people out of harm’s way. All three leaders agreed that strong relationships are what make Westminster and its neighbors so resilient.

“If this would’ve occurred in the City of Westminster—and it absolutely could have—we would’ve gotten the same support from our neighboring jurisdictions,” Varney said. “That’s a testament to the importance of strong relationships.”

Commander Materasso said one of the key lessons learned is how dedicated city staff are to serving the community at large.

“People used their training and resourcefulness to come together,” he said. “You have a phenomenal group in public safety that is dedicated to working for you.”

“During that fire, they had every fire truck hooked up to hydrants, and they’re sucking water out of the distribution system so much so that it almost drains the entire system of water, which has chlorine in there to protect it,” said

“ People used their training and resourcefulness to come together.

You have a phenomenal group in public safety that is dedicated to working for you.”

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Westminster Water Superintendent Roger Harshman. “They were mandated to go to a boil order alert until they were able to flush out their system and ensure it was safe to drink.”

Editor’s note: This story was edited for length. To read the full version, visit The Westy Word online.

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VOLUNTEERING IS A WORK OF HEART The sun was out, but it was still a chilly Saturday morning when Sara and Carl Trautman walked the grounds of Wayne Carl Middle School with their dog, Luna, in tow.

They carried large orange trash bags as they picked litter from the knee-high dormant grass around the parking lot and baseball field.

“We’ve always walked over here with the dog, so we knew there was a lot of trash and we decided this was a good place to go,” Carl said as Sara chuckled and Luna watched cars go by on 100th Avenue.

The Trautmans live across the street from the school in the Countryside neighborhood, and had signed up to spend their Saturday morning volunteering as part of Westminster’s “Honor the Land and Streams” event. Originally, they were assigned a small tributary near their house to clean up, but the couple walked the area and found no trash.

Instead of giving up or going home, the Trautmans decided their efforts would be better served cleaning up the grounds of their neighborhood school.

“We feel like we’re making a difference,” Sara said. “When you see all this trash and pick it up, you think ‘Wow, this is great.’”

Sara and Carl had volunteered for another citywide cleanup day back in May, but this was their first time participating in the “Honor the Land and Streams” event. The Trautmans said they greatly enjoy volunteer opportunities in Westminster, and encouraged others to give it a try.

“It’s more fun than it is hard work.

You feel good about it,” Sara said.

Before he turned to continue walking the fence line with Luna, Carl remarked that this was a great way to start a Saturday morning.

If you or your family would like to get involved in making Westminster a great place to live, work and play by volunteering, visit www.cityofwestminster.us/ VolunteerWestminster.

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We are very lucky in Westminster. We have a very engaged and caring community. Volunteering is mutually important because it helps our city bridge issues in the community and gives our community a voice. The impact our volunteers have when directly helping residents is incredibly meaningful. It lets our residents know they’re not alone. Volunteers also have the ability to develop and share their skills and talents extending city services right into our neighborhoods.

Volunteering is also said to be good for your mind and body keeping you healthier, and who doesn’t want that?

Martha heinz, city of westminster volunteer coordinator

CITY OF WESTMINSTER

Sunday, March 13 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday,

April 9 WALNUT CREEK GOLF PRESERVE

ST. BALDRICK’S DAY

AGES

21+

Westminster Shaves…for the Brave Be a hero for kids with cancer! Whether you decide to shave your head, volunteer to raise money another way, or make a donation, please join us to give kids with cancer the long, healthy lives they deserve.

https://www.stbaldricks.org/events/ westminster2022

WWW.CITYOFWESTMINSTER.US /SPECIALEVENTS Tickets go on sale early spring!

Yacht Club Salon | 6350 W. 92nd Ave., Westminster

GREAT GLOBAL CLEANUP

CELEBRATION

APRIL 23

Participate anytime between April 17–23 and join us for a volunteer celebration with free Grab ‘N’ Go lunch on Saturday, April 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.!

ARMED FORCES DAY CEREMONY

SATURDAY, MAY 21 • 10 A.M. Armed Forces Tribute Garden 6001 W. 104th Ave.

Previously known as Community Pride Day

Celebrate Armed Forces Day and honor those who serve our nation. The ceremony includes patriotic music, flag presentation, 21-gun salute, keynote speaker, and reading of the names of all new brick honorees.

REGISTER BY APRIL 8 Contact Julia Kast at Jkast@cityofwestminster.us or 303-658-2389

Westminster’s Armed Forces Tribute Garden honors those who serve in the Armed Services. Personalized, engraved bricks are available to all service men and women.

Sponsored By

www.tributegarden.org WWW.CITY0FWESTMINSTER.US

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THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS

and this ain't our first ‘Roadeo!’

Long before the snow starts to fall, the city’s Public Works and Utilities Department has already begun preparing for winter storms. Filling fall schedules with trainings, purchasing materials, and route planning, the snow team at the city has a strong sense of comradery and dedication to keeping our community safe and moving. So, what does it take to be a snow plow operator?

A plow operator must have at least a Class B Commercial Driver’s License, but they also must successfully pass the Snow Roadeo—a key element of the American Public Works Association (APWA) snow plowing training program. Picture an autocross or the parking lot scene of a Fast and the Furious movie, but with three-ton snow plows.

Equipment operator Joey Velotta gives

“It’s my favorite two days a thumbs-up in the cab of a City of of the year!” said Monica Westminster snow plow after completing his Hermann, Street Operpre-operation safety checklist. ations Administrative Assistant. Our operators skid steers, and front-end loaders. come together from the Street The APWA even holds a National Operations and Utility Operations Western Snow Roadeo in Loveland, teams to put their skills to the where in 2021, Operator Juan Salas test by driving around an obstacle took home second place for the course without hitting any cones, Skid Steer category, and Operators competing for the title of in-house Kenny Shinley and Nick Craig took Snow Champion. The Snow Roadeo home third place in the Single Axle tests the operator’s ability to safely Plow category—with the matching maneuver large vehicles in tight arSnow Roadeo Champion belt buckeas and improves their driving skills. les to prove it.

Veterans and novices alike compete in the Snow Roadeo, held in September in a vacant Westminster parking lot. Operators have to complete the obstacle course while balancing hula hoops on the front end of their plow trucks,

SNOW

ROADEO

“Our snow removal team are highly dedicated professionals who work long, difficult hours to try and make everyone’s commute safer,” said Street Operations Manager Kurt Muehlemeyer, who once was a snow plow operator for 10 years.

“They take a lot of pride in their work, and put in the time to do it with skill and precision. The buckle says it all.”

Whether navigating cones on dry ground in September, or the slick streets in winter, rest assured that our snow team and our operators are ready to step up and help keep you moving this season—and hopefully win a few more belt buckles in 2022!

Juan Salas, a Westminster employee and National Snow Roadeo Champion, poses with several of his awards.

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Neighborly Advice UPGRADE TO A WATERWISE YARD

Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

We’re here to help!

For general inquiries and assistance, contact a Community Assistant.

303-658-2400 (then press “0” from the menu options)

Sign up for CodeRED Alerts

The City is offering residents up to $1,000 toward transforming your thirsty lawn into a beautiful, waterwise landscape. We have partnered with Resource Central to make the process as easy as possible.

Stay informed during an emergency. CodeRED emergency notifications allow your local emergency response team to warn citizens of danger. With CodeRED, the emergency response team can call, text, or email multiple individuals and businesses to warn of dangerous suspects, flood, fire, or chemical spills.

STEP 1: Remove at least 200 square feet of lawn

Adams county residents: STEP 2: Replant with Garden In

To register a cell phone for the ADCOM911 CodeRED Emergency Notification System, please visit CodeRED:

STEP 3: Sit back, save water and

https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/ en-US/655AC5D55998

A Box

money, and enjoy your new beautiful yard

Jefferson county residents: Sign up for CodeRED via www.Your911.net.

Spring applications are due March 14. If you have questions, please visit ResourceCentral.org/lawn or call 303-999-3820 x 221.

Get comfortable and save on Energy Bills Automate your thermostat

Set your thermostat at 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter for optimal comfort and to reduce your bill by 5-15 percent!

https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/ en-US/EA22F5DE3F32

Make your home more comfortable and save money on energy costs through the following tips:

Upgrade to LED light bulbs

LED bulbs use 25-80 percent less electricity and last 3-25 times longer than traditional bulbs.

Stop the draft

Install weather stripping, attic insulation, and multipane windows. It can be as easy as pulling the rug over the door at night!

Schedule a Home Energy Squad visit at www.homeenergysquad.net.

Xcel Energy has virtual and in-home visits available to help you save money. They can also connect you with rebates on energy-saving products and services.

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City of Westminster 4800 West 92nd Ave. Westminster CO, 80031

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